Ray Allen is officially finished playing professional basketball.
The 41-year-old who spent his NBA career with Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston and Miami, announced via the Player’s Tribune he’s retiring. Allen hasn’t appeared in the NBA since 2013-14, but in the past two offseasons, the three-point marksman’s been rumored to make a comeback. Those rumors can be put to rest.
In an emotional letter, Allen detailed growing up in a military family and finding his footing in basketball and in life. He discusses his college career (he didn’t want to get on Jim Calhoun’s shit list), playing with future Hall-of-Famers like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and winning multiple championships.
Allen expressed being at peace with his career on-and-off the court:
“I write this to you today as a 41-year-old man who is retiring from the game. I write to you as a man who is completely at peace with himself.
The hell you experience when you get off that bus will be temporary. Basketball will take you far away from that school yard. You will become far more than just a basketball player. You’ll get to act in movies. You’ll travel the world. You will become a husband, and the father of five amazing children.”
Allen’s legendary career features multiple title victories, an Olympic gold medal and a boatload of individual awards. He was one of the all-time best three-point shooters, and for a while he was one of the league’s best all-around guards, period. The game will miss Allen, but then it has already for a few years now.
