The Memphis Grizzlies have announced that they will retire guard Tony Allen’s No. 9 jersey on March 15. This significant honor will take place after a game against the Miami Heat at FedExForum. Allen will become the third player in Grizzlies history to have his jersey retired, joining former teammates Zach Randolph, whose No. 50 is honored, and Marc Gasol, who wore No. 33.
During his seven seasons with the Grizzlies from 2010 to 2017, Allen became a defining figure of the team’s “Grit and Grind” era. His tenacious defensive play and relentless work ethic personified the identity that the franchise embraced during that time. The team shared the news of the celebration on social media platform X, highlighting the significance of this moment in franchise history.
Allen’s impact on the court was profound; he was named to the NBA All-Defensive team six times during his tenure in Memphis. He played a crucial role in leading the Grizzlies to the playoffs in all seven of his seasons with the team, including an impressive run to the Western Conference finals in 2013. His defensive prowess helped solidify his status as one of the best guards in the league.
In terms of individual statistics, Allen ranks second in franchise history for steals with 762, sixth in games played with 462, and tenth in blocked shots with 217. Across his entire NBA career, which also included time with the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans, he averaged 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
Drafted in 2004 by the Celtics as the 25th overall pick, Allen was part of the championship-winning team in 2008 before making his mark in Memphis.
