NBA Champion Ray Allen Discusses Basketball, Fighting Racism With UVU Basketball Team
Jun 25, 2020, 4:29 PM | Updated: 4:32 pm
Ray Allen #34 of the Miami Heat takes a shot against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Four of the 2014 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 12, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former NBA player Ray Allen joined a virtual call with the Utah Valley Wolverines men’s basketball team to discuss multiple topics including basketball and fighting racism.
UVU head coach Mark Madsen posted a photo on social media of Allen meeting with his team.
“Leadership. Basketball insights. Challenge to bring about positive change. Fighting racism in every form. Can’t thank Ray Allen enough for taking the time to discuss these topics with our Utah Valley men’s basketball team on Zoom,” Madsen tweeted alongside the photo. “Learned a lot about basketball and things we can do to bring change.”
Leadership.
Basketball insights.
Challenge to bring about positive change.
Fighting racism in every form.Can’t thank Ray Allen enough for taking the time to discuss these topics with our @UVUmbb team on Zoom.
Learned a lot about basketball and things we can do to bring change pic.twitter.com/1FeBmsMuyX
— Mark Madsen (@madsen_mark) June 25, 2020
Madsen’s time in the NBA (2000-09) overlapped with part of Allen’s career. The two players faced off against each multiple times as members of teams in the same division.
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Ray Allen’s NBA Career
Prior to his professional career in the NBA, Allen played college basketball for the UConn Huskies. During his time at UConn, Allen was a consensus first-team All-American, a Big East Player of the Year, and a two-time First-team All-Big East player.
His No. 34 jersey was retired by UConn.
Following his career with the Huskies, Allen was drafted into the league with the fifth overall selection of the 1996 NBA Draft. He played for four different franchises from 1996-2014. He played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat.
Allen won two NBA titles during his career. The first came with the Celtics and the second with the Heat.
Some of Allen’s professional accomplishments include:
- Two-time NBA champion (2008, 2013)
- 10-time NBA All-Star (2000-02, 2004-09, 2011)
- All-NBA Second Team (2005)
- All-NBA Third Team (2001)
- NBA Sportsmanship Award (2003)
- NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2001)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
In 2018, Allen was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The former NBA star is the founder of the “Ray of Hope” Foundation which assists charities in multiple communities.
While in office, President Barack Obama appointed Allen to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Allen is a longtime supporter of the Museum.
