Fansided

Ray Allen made me a basketball fan

By Matt Cianfrone

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 12: 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. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 12: 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. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Ray Allen has officially retired. In reality, he retired years ago — his last NBA game came in 2014 — but he made things official with a post on The Players Tribune on Tuesday morning. Allen seems very much at peace with the decision — after all, he has reportedly been contacted by plenty of teams over the last few years and never joined any, which is a good thing. As someone who grew up with him as their favorite player, his happiness is the most important thing to me. But the news also made me realize something about the way I view the NBA and how in one way it will never be the same.

Since Allen left the NBA in 2014, I have thought a lot about fandom.

Part of that is because Allen is the reason I am an NBA fan. In 2001, I was in the fifth grade and starting to realize that basketball was my favorite sport. As someone whose parents were not big sports fans, there was no pressure on me to root for a certain team. That let me choose whoever I wanted, and that year was the classic Eastern Conference Finals dual between Allen Iverson’s Philadelphia 76ers and Allen’s Milwaukee Bucks. Growing up in New Jersey, most of my  friends rooted for the 76ers, New York Knicks or New Jersey Nets, and I wanted to be different. Allen and the Bucks were a blast and different. So I stuck to them.

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As I got more and more into basketball, Allen became the guy I gravitated towards. While I was not able to watch him much, he showed up on enough highlights that it was easy to call him my favorite player. Obviously, there was the sweet shot, picture perfect in so many ways. But young Allen also had impressive dunks and a swagger that led to a short rivalry with Kobe Bryant. All in all, he was just easy to latch on to.

I got an Allen Bucks jersey. I checked scores and standings every morning. In short, I cared about the Bucks in a way I did not care about other sports teams, which meant I cared about the NBA in a way I didn’t any other league.

Then the Bucks traded Allen. It happened just days before I was going to get to see him live for the first time. It was devastating. I still rooted for the Bucks after that but I also rooted hard for Allen. I wanted him to prove the Bucks wrong for moving him. To continue to be the star he was. But most of all, I wanted him to win.

That came to a head when Allen was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2007. Suddenly my favorite player had a chance to win an NBA title. That season I found myself rooting for Boston more than anyone else, including the Bucks. I wanted him to win a title more than I had wanted anything in in the sports world. And he did. While many found themselves thrilled for Kevin Garnett, I could not stop smiling because Allen had a title.

Those feelings remained throughout the rest of Allen’s career. I was thrilled when he joined LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. Once again, my favorite player would have a huge impact in determining the NBA champion. When Allen hit what is arguably the biggest shot in NBA history, my fandom peaked. Never before had I been so moved by a moment in a sporting event that I wasn’t a part of. Even to this day, I still get goosebumps watching the shot, despite not being a Miami Heat fan.

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During that summer, I realized that I wouldn’t ever see basketball the same way again. While I am still a Bucks fan, I’m not sure it will ever be the same. Since Allen left I haven’t been able to get as emotionally invested in a single player as I was with him. Part of that is probably because I am older and more mature. Nostalgia matters a lot in my feelings towards Allen as he was very much my first favorite player. That definitely matters.

But I like to think that it is more because Allen let me experience the ultimate high you can as a fan. After all, it is hard to surpass your favorite player hitting one of the biggest shots of all-time. So thanks, Ray Allen, for letting me have that moment. I won’t ever forget it. In fact, this announcement is as good a reason as any to go watch it over and over — perhaps with some of his Bucks highlight reels mixed in for old times’ sake.

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