6. Tony Allen
Tony Allen, who is commonly known as The Grindfather, Trick or Treat Tony and Gucci, always gave the city of Chicago reasons to be proud, even if he never actually had the chance during his career to suit up for his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls.
It all began in November of 2004 when Allen made his NBA debut with the Boston Celtics. It is there he would play several seasons before moving on to suit up for the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Allen gained a plethora of playoff experience over the course of his 14-year career. It proved to be especially advantageous for him.
How, you ask?
As a Celtic, Allen won an NBA championship title to cap off the team’s 2007-2008 season.
Allen’s style of play led him to have continued yet unparalleled success a few years later as a member of the Grizzlies. It is there he formed a unique bond playing alongside the likes of Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The team was fun to watch for many years, but never could find a way to the NBA Finals. As such, the Grizzlies started embarking on a rebuild, which allowed Allen and others to find new homes in the league in the years to come.
Allen signed a deal with the Pelicans in September of 2017. This stint in his NBA journey didn’t last long. The Pelicans would package him in February 2018 trade sending him, Omer Asik, Jameer Nelson and a first-round draft pick (Chandler Hutchison was later selected) to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Mirotic and a second-round draft pick (Tony Carr was later selected). Allen was waived by the Bulls in February of 2018.
Among Allen’s most proud accomplishments include six All-Defense Team selections, ranking among the top 20 in both steals and steals per game for five seasons, ranking among the top 20 in defensive rating for three seasons and one NBA championship title.
Allen has posted career averages of 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Allen was born in Chicago. He attended high school at Crane Technical Preparatory High School in Chicago and went to college at both Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Allen has a 0% probability of getting inducted as a player into the Hall of Fame.