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Ray Allen's Hall of Fame Routine
How Allen's obsessive routine spread throughout the NBA
Friends,
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Huddle Up! Thank you for subscribing, it really means a lot. Now, let’s get right into it..
Consistent Routine Leads Allen To Greatness
Today’s article is a 2008 Boston Globe piece by Jackie MacMullan explaining the meticulous routine of Ray Allen. Read the full article here.
Ray Allen, a first ballot hall-of-famer, will go down as one of the best shooters of all time but don’t tell him it’s “god given”. Why? Because Allen considers it “an insult” and says that “God couldn’t care less whether I can shoot a jump shot”. Allen, who has self-diagnosed himself with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), was notorious around the NBA for an extremely detailed pre-game routine which included, among other things, shaving his head at the exact same time each day.
This quote from Heat coach Erik Spoelstra does a great job summarizing the respect that Allen’s consistent routine has garnered around the league.
“Our nickname for him is ‘Everyday Ray,’ ’’ Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said when he had Allen as a Heat sniper from 2012-2014. “It’s every day. It’s not every other day. It’s not some days. It’s every single day Ray. His work ethic and his discipline are in the top percentage in this league. Ninety-nine percent of the players do not have that type of consistent work ethic.’’
Superstars Sharing Space
When superstars team up to chase championships I think the difficulty of conflicting personalities and crowded personal space often gets forgotten. Remember Lebron, D-Wade, and Bosh’s welcome party? “Not 5, not 6, not 7”… Ultimately, you won’t win on talent alone.
MacMullan does an excellent job detailing the work ethic of an elite NBA player, but also giving you an inside look at how three superstars (Allen, Garnett & Pierce) emotionally navigated the confines of an NBA locker room to accomplish their ultimate goal, an NBA Championship.
My Favorite Ray Allen Story
Remember that shot? My favorite Ray Allen story came from Erik Spoelstra detailing Allen’s first Heat practice and the preparation that led to his championship saving shot.
“He would lay on the floor, pop up, backpedal, have the presence of mind to have his feet set and not out of bounds and have a coach throw him the ball,” Spoelstra said. “Afterwards I said, ‘That seemed like a crazy drill. Why would he do something like laying down in the middle of the floor?’
“He said, ‘It’s extreme, but I want to prepare myself for when I’m in the lane and hit the floor, or I’m on the ground and there's an offensive rebound so I have the fundamentals to be able to back pedal, stay in bounds and be able to knock down shots.’ ”
That exact scenario played out years later and is considered by many to be the most clutch shot in NBA finals history - but knowing Allen’s insane work ethic, are you really surprised?
Extra Credit
Ray Allen currently sits atop the NBA record book with 2,973 made 3-pointers but the chart below shows why his record won’t last for long. Yes, I’m talking about you Steph Curry.
Why the sudden surge in 3pt attempts from ‘95 to 97’? The league shortened the three-point line from 23’9″ at the top of the key and 22′ in the corners, to 22′ all the way around. In 1998 the league wisely moved the line back to it’s original length.
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