The Memphis Grizzlies will retire Tony Allen’s No. 9 on Saturday, March 15, at FedExForum following the game against the Miami Heat, the team announced on Tuesday,
He will become the third player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired, joining Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in the rafters.
After signing as a free agent in 2010, Allen helped guide the Grizzlies to the NBA Playoffs in all seven of his seasons in Memphis (2010-17) and factored into the club’s first postseason victory in 2011 and the team’s trip to the 2013 Western Conference Finals.
The Chicago native ranks second in franchise history in steals (762) and ranks in the top 10 in games played (462; 6th), offensive rebounds (741; 9th), blocks (217; 10th) and minutes (11,588; 10th).
Allen was named to the NBA All-Defensive team six times during his seven years with the Grizzlies, receiving three First Team accolades (2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15) and three Second Team honors (2010-11, 2015-16, 2016-17). With Allen defending the perimeter, the Grizzlies ranked in the NBA’s top 10 in points allowed six times in seven seasons, surrendering a league-best 89.3 points in the 2012-13 season during a franchise-record 56-26 campaign.
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