Ray Allen Comments on Retirement and NBA Future
Ray Allen isn't officially retiring. That said, he does not sound like a man preparing to return for a 19th NBA season.
Allen, 40, sat out the 2014-15 NBA season despite widespread speculation that he would join a contender at midseason. The NBA's all-time leading three-point shooter last played for the Miami Heat in 2013-14, averaging 9.6 points and 2.8 rebounds on 44.2 percent shooting. Allen talked with Dom Amore of the Hartford Courant about what it was like to sit out the season:
"I didn't miss it. I realized how much time I missed not being home with my kids. I probably missed it in the Finals. Watching Cleveland and Golden State play, it just seemed like an epic battle that required a lot of precision on the floor and that's when I felt, that was probably the only time that I felt like, 'Man, I should have been out there.'
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| Rank | Player | Three-Pointers Made |
| 1. | Ray Allen | 2973 |
| 2. | Reggie Miller | 2560 |
| 3. | Jason Terry | 2076 |
| 4. | Paul Pierce | 2053 |
| 5. | Jason Kidd | 1988 |
Former Miami teammate LeBron James reportedly made a pitch to Allen last season in an attempt to bring him to Cleveland. The Cavaliers could have used his shooting in the postseason, especially after stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving went down with injuries. Allen insinuated that a situation like Cleveland—with a team on the cusp of championship contention—would be the only type that would make him consider a return.
"I haven't said anything about that, and I won't officially retire," Allen said. "Because if something came to the table, contractually and situationally, I want to be able to take a strong look at it. I don't want to be that guy that says he's retiring and then is coming back."
Though Allen can space the floor—he could probably knock down an open three into his 50s—it's questionable how much of a difference he could make. The Heat were less efficient on both ends of the floor when Allen was playing in 2013-14, with a particular drop-off defensively, per Basketball-Reference.com.
NBC Sports' Kurt Helin doesn't envision Allen returning to an NBA regular-season court anytime soon:
"He's leaving the door open, but this does not sound like a guy with a burning desire to get back on the court.
My guess is again Allen would not be open to a full-season contract, after 18 seasons and sitting the last one out he doesn't want to go through a training camp and some preseason games. But if the Cavaliers decide closer to the All-Star break that they need more shooting, and they seem destined for the Finals, then maybe Allen would listen to the chance to make one more run at a ring.
Even then, I'd still bet on him choosing staying home with his family.
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Age has largely sapped his lateral quickness, and teams exploited Allen's matchups even when he was hidden on the opposing squad's worst offensive player.
Even if Allen is staying in shape, which he says he is, odds are that taking a year off from basketball isn't suddenly going to rejuvenate his legs. At 40, he's probably at the point where he'd be a replacement-level player at best. For someone who's headed to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, that would likely be a tough pill to swallow.
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