Tony Allen
From Hoopedia
Anthony (Tony) Allen (born January 11, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Allen attended Crane High School in Chicago, where he was a basketball standout.
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College
A 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) and 213 lb (96.6 kg) shooting guard, he played for Oklahoma State University, where he was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year his senior year, after averaging 16 points per game and leading his team to the Final Four. He became the first player in OSU history to score 1,000 career points in just two seasons. He graduated Oklahoma State with a degree in education. After graduating, he declared himself ready for the 2004 NBA Draft.
NBA Career
Allen was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 25th overall pick, expecting to fit right into the team's offensive scheme due to his abilities. In his rookie season he averaged 6.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, and ranked 3rd in the league in steals per 48 minutes, with 2.89. He was selected to play for the rookies in the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend, along with fellow Celtics rookie Al Jefferson.
Shooting Incident
Allen's successful rookie season was marred during the offseason, when he was charged with aggravated battery stemming from an altercation that escalated into the non-fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man outside a restaurant in Chicago. Although he was not a suspect in the shooting, Allen was accused of breaking another man's left eye socket. He spent two nights in jail, but was not implicated in the shooting. Due to this incident and a rather severe right knee injury that Allen had suffered prior to the shooting, Allen missed much of the first half of the 2005-2006 season. On April 24, 2007, the charges against Allen were dropped in a Chicago court.
2006-07 Injury
On January 10 in the final minutes of a Celtics loss to the Indiana Pacers, during the 2006-07 season, Allen suffered a debilitating knee injury as he landed awkwardly after an unnecessary slam dunk attempt after the whistle was blown. Allen underwent successful anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery on January 13 and was out for the rest of the season. He was averaging 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.48 steals in 33 games.
Personal
In his spare time, Tony Allen enjoys listening to music, and is considered somewhat of a music "connoisseur" by his Celtic teammates. He also frequently assists the Celtics in charity work in and around the Boston area. When Allen retires, he hopes to become a teacher. He has two sisters, Ebony and Dominique, and a brother, Ryan.
