Former NBA Legend Tony Allen Reveals Which Modern Superstar He Couldn't Defend

Former NBA Legend Tony Allen Reveals Which Modern Superstar He Couldn't Defend originally appeared on Athlon Sports.Tony Allen may not have been a highly touted prospect heading into college out of Richard T.

Crane Medical Prep High School in Chicago in 2000.The 6-foot-4 guard kicked off his collegiate career playing for Butler County Community College and Wabash Valley College from 2000-02, before transferring to Oklahoma State, where he quickly became a standout, finishing as the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2003-04.By then, he had become an intriguing-enough player to warrant a selection in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft, but he was selected far outside of the lottery, with the No.

25 pick.Allen first burnished his legend as a critical role player on the Boston Celtics, emerging as a key cog for two NBA Finals-bound clubs in 2008 and 2010.

Allen won his lone championship with Boston in 2008, playing spot minutes on a franchise led by superstars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Apr 17, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA: Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) points to the other end of the court after a foul is called against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Target Center.

The Grizzlies won 91-84.

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesHe then blossomed into one of the league's most undeniable wing defenders at his next stop, the Memphis Grizzlies.

From 2010-17, Allen was named to six All-Defensive Teams (including three First Teams) while becoming the face of the "Grit and Grind" era of Grizzlies basketball, along with two-time All-Star power forward Zach Randolph and, to a lesser extent, three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol and All-Star point guard Mike Conley.But it was Allen's hard-nosed defense that captivated the city and helped make him one of the most beloved NBA role players of the 2010s.During a new episode of former Memphis teammate Mike Miller and longtime Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem's podcast "The OGs," Allen revealed the modern NBA perimeter superstar who would most give him fits.

Keep in mind, this is a guy who found a way to bug Hall of Famers like Kobe Bryant, Klay Thompson and Manu Ginobili in their primes.Allen, now 43 and retired since 2018, pinpointed three-time All-NBA Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards and his well-rounded offense as perhaps his toughest hypothetical modern covers."And as far as Ant [goes], he's the one [who's] probably got me," Allen conceded.

"If he's East or West, he could pull up from 40 [feet] now.

His range got extended.

Then if you push him left, he might take off, go left and throw it on your head.

And then if he goes right, he's just as strong as [he is] going the other way to dunk [on] you." Still just 23, Edwards has pushed his Timberwolves to two straight Western Conference Finals berths and has emerged as one of the most complete scorers in the game today."So it ain't really no weakness in his game," Allen said.

"He tough bro.

I don't really [have no] answer for him."In 79 healthy contests this past regular season, the 6-foot-4 Georgia product averaged 23.9 points on .447/.395/.837 shooting splits, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals a night.This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared..

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