Although Tony Allen left the Memphis Grizzlies this summer and joined the New Orleans Pelicans, the Grizzlies still appreciate what he did for the franchise. In fact, they appreciate Allen’s effort so much that they have announced on Thursday that the franchise will retire his No. 9 jersey once he retires. Previously, the team announced they will retire Zach Randolph’s No. 50 jersey as well. The news was confirmed by the Memphis Grizzlies official Twitter profile.
"We are proud that @aa000G9's #9 jersey will hang in the rafters of @FedExForum alongside Zach’s one day.”https://t.co/hEpfJDtuYe pic.twitter.com/zc2UuIOcgL
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 12, 2017
Grizzlies’ owner Robert J. Pera issued a statement following the announcement.
“Tony was a driving force behind the Grizzlies’ seven straight playoff appearances and he remains a beloved member of the Memphis community. Tony played with a level of passion that is unrivaled. He helped establish a Grizzlies culture focused on toughness and effort, and he challenged every player that put on Beale Street Blue to match his fiery intensity. On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank him for his incredible contributions to the Grizzlies and the unique way that he inspired the city of Memphis. We are proud that the Grindfather’s #9 jersey will hang in the rafters of FedExForum alongside Zach’s one day.”
After hearing the news, Allen obviously reacted emotionally, saying that his dream came true.
“I laid my mark down, considered (Memphis) home. The organization was A-1,” – Allen said. “I’ve got a lot of friends and family in the city. It’s the ‘Grit and Grind’, the whole era, just the groundwork. Obviously, it’s a dream come true to have your number retired in the NBA.”
.@aa000G9’s emotional reaction to having his jersey retired in Memphis. pic.twitter.com/skSGoPaFLn
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 12, 2017
Tony Allen entered the league following the 2004 NBA draft, where the Boston Celtics took him with the 25th overall pick. During his time with the Celtics, Allen was a valuable part of the team that won the NBA Championship in 2008 and reached NBA Finals in 2010. In 2010, Allen joined the Grizzlies and helped the team reach seven straight playoff appearances.
