Ray Allen spoke to JJ Redick about what he misses about basketball and told a wonderful practice story about LeBron James, highlighting his work ethic and competitive spirit.
“LeBron always wanted the smoke. He was always like, ‘Come on, let’s go shoot free throws.’ It was a competition. And that camaraderie and competition is what I miss because you’re always like. We just practiced for two or three hours but now, the real dudes step up. The real dudes go off to the side and are like, ‘Let’s get the smoke in.’ We’ll get a couple of shots up and move around the horn. And then the free throw competition starts.”
Allen then reveals that James would even brag to media members observing practice after he would win one of these practice competitions.
“If I’m shooting with LeBron, if he won two or three times throughout the year. We’re done, the media is over there. He walks over there with a little swag. and be like, ‘Yeah, I just took him down today.'”
Ray Allen on the camaraderie (and free throw competitions with @KingJames) in Miami 👇 pic.twitter.com/P12McbJJxo
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) March 29, 2024
LeBron and Allen were teammates for two seasons in Miami for two seasons, both runs resulting in NBA Finals appearances. The second run in 2014 ended in a Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The year prior, Allen and the Heat won the title by beating the Spurs in a series marked by an infamous game-tying three from Allen in Game 6 of the Finals.
Ray Allen Has Always Appreciated LeBron James As A Teammate
Ray Allen spoke to Fadeaway World in 2023, where he discussed his time with LeBron in Miami, appreciating how he found a strong balance between working hard and unwinding.
“LeBron was a great teammate. The one thing he did was he took incredible care of his body, understanding how to eat and stretch obsessively. And he had fun. He enjoyed the game and enjoyed life off the court. All of that is what has allowed him to be so successful. And you can still see that he is enjoying playing the game of basketball. That, ultimately, is what fans end up hanging on to and appreciating,”
Allen also believes that James is adding to his legacy considerably every time he plays.
“I think your legend grows every day, and the longer you’re available (to play). Longevity, and consistency, ultimately breeds greatness. LeBron has been persistent. And he has been available for a long time. So, the longer he plays, gets more buckets, more passes, and more rebounds, it just makes him more noteworthy for a long period of time.”
Allen’s positive outlook for James is justified given what they achieved together. Allen also joined LeBron after leaving the group he won his first title with, the 2008 Celtics alongside close friends Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
LeBron was their biggest rival at the time and Allen’s defection sealed the chapter for that Heat-Celtics rivalry, though the Heat had also beaten them when Allen was still there. Nonetheless, Allen can look at two championship rings in his possession and LeBron was one of the key drivers of one of those rings.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
