Ray Allen Says He Will Not Play This NBA Season
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — When Ray Allen chose not to sign with any teams prior to the 2014-15 season it was thought that the 10-time All-Star would eventually catch on with a title contender for another postseason run.
That isn't going to happen.
The league's all-time leading 3-point shooter who played for two NBA championship clubs announced Wednesday that he decided not to sign with any franchise for the remainder of this season, although he left the door open for a possible return in 2015-16.
"Over the past several months, I have taken a lot of time to deliberate what is best for me," Allen said in a statement released through the office of his agent, Jim Tanner. "I've ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season."
Allen's future has been the source of incessant speculation since last summer, so much so that at one point Tanner felt compelled to post a message on social media and deny widespread reports that the future Hall of Fame sharpshooter had signed with Cleveland.
"Ray has received enormous interest from a number of NBA teams throughout this season," Tanner said in the same statement. "We will communicate with interested teams as Ray makes a decision for the 2015-16 season."
Allen turns 40 on July 20, though he's long prided himself on keeping an extremely high level of fitness. Many of his social-media posts in recent months have been directly related to either his workouts, his passion for running or to encourage others to become more fit.
Allen most recently played for the Miami Heat, helping the team win a championship in 2013 and reach the NBA Finals last season.
His game-tying shot in the final seconds of Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals is widely considered one of the most clutch plays in NBA history.
The Heat won that game, then prevailed in Game 7 for their second straight crown.
Allen has kept a home in South Florida since playing his final game with the Heat last June.
"I'm going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the upcoming offseason, to reassess my situation, spend time with my family and determine if I will play in the 2015-16 season," Allen said.
Allen has made 2,973 shots from 3-point range in his 18 NBA seasons, 413 more than anyone else in league history. On the NBA's all-time lists, Allen is 15th in games played, 22nd in field goals and 22nd in scoring.
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