Ray Allen is one of the best American basketball players, striking many with his sleek style and high accuracy. Spent 7 seasons with Milwaukee Bucks and four with Seattle Supersonics. He helped lead the Boston Celtics to victory at the NBA Championship in 2008 and became one of the key players of 2013 at the Miami Heat.
Eight times he was recognized as the champion of the NBA All-Star. Set a league record, exceeding the previous figure of the legendary Reggie Miller - 2560 points. In 2000, he won a gold Olympic medal as part of the US team Dream Team .
In addition, he is the father of five children, loves to play the piano, collects original works of art and became the founder of the Ray of Hope charity foundation.
Learn more about this famous man!
early years
Walter Ray Allen was born July 20, 1975 in Merced, California. He was the third child in a military family. His mother Flora and father Walter were fond of basketball in their youth and passed on to their son good skills and an unusual passion for this game. Allen's family, like many military personnel, often moved - before staying in Delzell (South Carolina) they visited Oklahoma, Germany, England and Southern California.
In his youth, Ray showed amazing athletic talents, playing baseball and soccer. However, in Rosamond (California) he was seen by the coach of the youth basketball team and wanted to direct his incomparable abilities in a different direction. And so Allen began to play basketball.
At Delzell High School, he led his team to victory, scoring 25 points in a championship game.
College
After graduating from high school, Ray became the father of his first child - Tierra. His mother helped raise the baby while Allen studied basketball at the University of Connecticut.
As a sophomore, he helped his team win the Big East tournament in 1995 with a decisive throw. At the World University Games in Japan, Ray Allen was named "the best athlete in the United States."
In 1996, he signed a contract with the NBA and began playing for the Milwaukee Bucks team. He showed himself perfectly in every game. For this, he was awarded the title "Rookie of the Year." At the end of the season, Spike Lee suggested Allen to star in the movie "His Game" with Denzel Washington. After listening, he was approved for the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth, a rising basketball star. After the official screening of the film (1998), critics spoke positively about the basketball player, calling his game “comfortable” and “productive.”
In 2001, he will return to the screen again, starring in the comedy Harvard Party.
Brilliant career
Playing for Milwaukee Bucks for the third year, Ray is fourth in the league in free throw percentages. Gaining 22.1 points per game, Allen earned the NBA All-Star title and also earned a spot on the Dream Team of the US team . Legendary basketball players won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
“Ray Allen is a basketball player from God,” was what his fans called him. He actively manifested himself, gaining 25 points per game. This helped Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Orlando and Charlotte teams.
In February 2003, Allen was sold to Seattle Supersonics with Kevin Ollie. Injuries slowed his adjustment in the new team, but he soon turned into a leader on the site. Allen's meticulous approach to the game, careful preparation and an excellent personal style inspired young participants. So, Rashard Lewis said that Ray Allen helped him become an All-Star.
First NBA title
In June 2007, Allen signed a contract with the Boston Celtics. For the first time, he played with superstars such as Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. With the arrival of Ray, the team began to win. In the 2007-2008 season, the club won 66 victories and the NBA championship!
In the offseason, he married his girlfriend, actress Shannon Walker Williams. In December 2009, in a game against the Washington Wizards, he reached 20,000 points in his career.
In 2012, signs a contract with Miami Heat and becomes a key player in the team. In the summer of 2014, information appeared in the media that "Ray Allen ended his career." This was misleading to many of his fans, but the basketball player noted that he did not intend to do so yet.