NBA 2011 Playoffs: Boston Celtics' Ray Allen Proves to Be Timeless Player

When it comes to a professional player's career, they know going into it that the average time in the league is roughly five years. In the NBA, the average player is 26 years old, but try telling Celtics clutch shooter Ray Allen that his time is up.

Drafted fifth in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ray Allen is currently in his 14th season at 35 years old. Despite his relatively "old" age, many can say that Allen is having the year of his life.

For those who have seen him play, you can bet that when he has the ball in his hands, it's money. The three-point shooting phenom has shot an average of .399 for his career from down town, and is shooting a career high .444 this year.

Also worth mentioning is that his FG percentage is .491, another career high. This is simply amazing for someone of his age. Not only is he deadly from three-point range, but Allen can hustle up and down the court as quick as anyone. This effort is the reason why Ray Allen will go down in the books as one of the greats.

Throughout Ray's entire career, he has been one of the elite scorers in the league. To add to his impressive resume, Allen broke Reggie Miller's all-time NBA record for career threes with 2,561. Allen broke the record in 309 fewer games played than Miller.

How is it that someone his age can still perform at such a high level?

Although his years for being the sole player in the spotlight have been up, that doesn't discourage him at any means necessary. Allen has played for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Seattle Supersonics and currently the Boston Celtics. His best years were arguably in Milwaukee, where he shot about .420 from the arc for three consecutive seasons.

With Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce by his side, this Boston team is just flat out scary. But watch out, in the playoffs is where Allen will really turn on the lights. As bizarre as it sounds, Ray Allen has shot .414 from three-point territory in 107 playoff games, accounting for a whopping 276 buckets.

With the Celtics currently down 0-2 to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Semifinals, Ray is still giving it is all. He has made 22 three-pointers in six playoff games this year, and has no intentions of slowing down. Who knows, maybe he will break Reggie Miller's record for postseason threes as well.

One thing is for sure: Ray Allen is relentless, and is still performing with the best of the league at his age. In a few years from now when he does retire, he will forever be remembered as one of the best to play at that shooting guard position. Long live that No. 20.