Tony Allen, one of the most respected defensive players of his era, recently appeared on the Knuckleheads podcast with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles and was asked to name his ultimate starting five composed entirely of his former teammates.
Without hesitation, Allen laid out a lineup that reflected not only Hall of Fame-level talent but also the grit and grind mentality he became synonymous with during his career.
“We going KG, we going Zebo… We got to go Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce, bro.”
That starting five—Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, Paul Pierce, Zach Randolph, and Kevin Garnett—is not just stacked with talent, but with toughness, basketball IQ, and two-way intensity.
At point guard, Allen went with Rajon Rondo, his backcourt mate during his early years with the Boston Celtics. Rondo was the engine of the 2008 championship Celtics team, known for his court vision, unselfishness, and basketball brilliance. Rondo’s ability to read the floor, get teammates involved, and lock up opposing guards on defense made him a perfect fit to run the show.
At shooting guard? Tony Allen himself, and rightfully so. Allen was a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team member and widely regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders of his generation.
He brought relentless energy, elite on-ball defense, and a fearless attitude every night. His inclusion in the lineup reflects his belief in his impact—something backed by Kobe Bryant, who once said Allen was the best defender he ever faced.
Paul Pierce takes the small forward spot, a no-brainer pick for Allen. “The Truth” was the heart and soul of the Celtics for over a decade and a Finals MVP in 2008. Pierce could score at all three levels, had a knack for hitting clutch shots, and was the offensive go-to guy for Boston during Allen’s early years. His leadership and championship pedigree make him an essential part of this dream lineup.
At power forward, Allen went with Zach Randolph, better known as “Z-Bo.” The two were Memphis Grizzlies legends and leaders of the “Grit and Grind” era that made the team a Western Conference powerhouse.
Z-Bo was an old-school bruiser with elite footwork in the post and an uncanny ability to dominate games without overwhelming athleticism. Allen’s pick of Randolph shows respect for the battles they fought together and Z-Bo’s reputation as one of the league’s most consistent interior scorers.
And anchoring the frontcourt is Kevin Garnett, one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. KG was more than a stat-stuffer—he was a culture-changer. His intensity, defense, leadership, and unrelenting motor defined the Celtics’ identity when he arrived in 2007.
Allen spoke glowingly about how Garnett influenced him, saying that KG taught him what it meant to be a professional and how to hold teammates accountable.
Allen’s ultimate five is a reflection of who he is as a player: hard-nosed, unselfish, and team-first. It’s a group of fierce competitors, elite defenders, and basketball warriors. And if that team ever took the floor together in their primes? Good luck scoring.
