Ray Allen has announced his retirement from the NBA after playing for 19 seasons for the Bucks, Sonics, Celtics, and Heat. The announcement came in a conceptual letter, written by Allen on The Players’ Tribune directed at a 13-year-old version of himself.
Allen hasn’t played since the 2013-14 season, but rumors abounded that the 41-year-old could be eyeing a comeback as a player off the bench for a team in need of three-point shooting. Those have now been put to rest. Allen has refocused his life away from basketball and is ready to sink everything into his five children, saying:
Now, the most important question in your life isn’t, “Who am I supposed to be?” or even, “What do I have to do to win another championship?”
It’s, “Daddy, guess what happened in math class today?”
Allen’s career will be defined by his two championships and solidifying his place as one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time. Stephen Curry is the only current player who stands a chance of toppling Allen’s record of 2,973 three pointers made, and he still needs over 1,300 more shots.
Allen will also forever be known for his game-tying three-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. That shot kept the Heat alive and eventually enabled them to win the series in Game 7.