This year’s NBA Hall of Fame list came out recently which featured some great guards. Looks like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen, and Grant? Hill? are getting in this year. Out of those HOFer’s I say only Grant Hill doesn’t belong. Doesn’t he seem out of place even on that short list of this year’s class? Steve Nash one of the best Point Guards ever, with back to back MVPs Nash was amazing.
Now to J Kidd, who leans more of a longevity guy but his all time numbers are undeniable. JKidd was also a great passing point guard who closed his career as a solid 3-point shooter. Both Nash and Kidd were all-time passers and all time point guards.
Then you get to Ray Allen aka Jesus Shuttlesworth. Greatest shooter of all time? I duno, but if you argued that I couldn’t really say ‘no’.
I still like Larry Legend and Reggie Miller but I think Ray is right there with those 2 and maybe a better shooter. Also you gota throw Steph in there nowadays too.
To answer this BR question – here’s a quick Ray Allen breakdown.
Milwaukee Bucks Ray – Ray was drafted 5th overall in 96′ by the T-wolves but was then traded that day for Stephon Marbury aka Starbury. Played here for 6 years and UConn Ray already knew how to score, but he was learning how to score in the NBA on this bum ass Bucks team by himself. When he left the Bucks he was easy a 20 a night guy. Ray started to become a dunker while in Milwaukee and when he was on his way out, Ray could get buckets.
Seattle Sonics Ray – After the terrible Bucks teams RayRay went to the Sonics where he really broke out as a true baller who could fill it up. Sonics Ray was the best form of Ray for me. He could obviously shoot the lights out. But here is where Ray became a nasty all around scorer. Dude could get to the rack with ease anddd slam on you. His skillset in Seattle was Harden minus all the almost traveling Euro-step drives. Harden doesn’t slam like Ray did here in Seattle. On any given night Ray could drop 30 like it was nothing. He was so smooth and lead this team with Rashard Lewis. Coming off putting up a career high 26 points a night in 07′.
Boston Celtics Ray – After killing in Seattle the Celtics formed the first Big Three. The got Ray and KG to join Pierce. This Boston Ray became more of a specialist shooter because of the talent around him. This team didn’t need him going to the hoop but rather just spot up and bang triples. Ray was still nasty on the Celtics and of course helped them win their Championship but going to Boston started his road to becoming older and more of just a shooter. But the best shooter in the league so that’s not a knock, his game was just evolving as he got older and changed teams, finally playing with other good players and scorers.
Miami Heat Ray – The year after winning with Boston, the Celts didn’t want to pay Ray to stay, so he left. He chose to roll with Lebron and DWade to win again. Still tops in the league in shooting, Ray fully embraced the specialist/shooter role in Miami. He started coming off the bench some games, starting some others, but still contributed a ton to the eventual championship team in Miami. Also hitting one of the biggest shots in Finals history to get it done. Celtics Ray was slowly becoming a more spot up shooter rather then shoot creator. And Miami Ray was definitely the same style.
So Pure
Waterrrrr
Straight net
Throughout all these Ray Allen teams, Sonics Ray was the most deadly scorer, but Celtics and Heat Ray locked him in as one of the Greatest Shooters of All Time.
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No way Grant Hill should be in….
NO body called Ray Allan RayRay when he was an active player….millennial Bullshit….