Tony Allen’s week took a turn nobody saw coming. The former NBA defensive specialist found himself in handcuffs this week after what started as a routine traffic stop in Arkansas spiraled into something far more serious.
Authorities in Poinsett County pulled over Allen and another man on Interstate 555 near Payneway on Tuesday. What officers discovered during that stop has now landed the 43-year-old Grizzlies legend in hot water.
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Police reports suggest they found less than two grams of cocaine or meth, plus under four ounces of marijuana, between the two men.
According to reports, a pack of marijuana was on Allen himself, along with drug paraphernalia. Officers also found a white powdery substance inside the vehicle that tested positive for cocaine. Both men ended up at the Poinsett County Detention Center shortly after.
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It’s a jarring fall for someone who built his reputation on grit and discipline. Allen spent 14 seasons in the NBA after Boston selected him in the first round out of Oklahoma State back in 2004. He earned his ring with the Celtics in 2008, but Memphis is where his legacy truly took shape.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen watches from the bench during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
The Grizzlies gave Allen a platform to become one of the league’s most feared defenders. Six All-Defensive team selections tell that story, including three first-team honors that cemented his status as a defensive anchor.
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Fans in Memphis knew him as “The Grindfather,” a nickname that captured everything he brought to the court. The franchise retired his number just eight months ago, in March.
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