There have been many great players that have come through the Milwaukee Bucks organization. Of course, the latest of these is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who may have a case for being the greatest player ever when his career is all said and done.
Of course, the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started his career in Milwaukee, and Oscar Robertson finished his storied career in a Bucks uniform. But it is one player whose years in Milwaukee are often overshadowed by the success he enjoyed later in his career, Ray Allen, who is garnering praise recently.
Steph Curry Calls Former Milwaukee Bucks Shooting Guard Ray Allen the Greatest 3-Point Shooter of All-Time (Besides Himself)
Already considered one of the NBA’s greatest 75 players, Ray Allen was a 10-time All-Star, two-time NBA Champion (Celtics and Heat) and a two-time All-NBA selection. A Hall of Famer, Allen was the NBA leader in three-point shots made before Steph Curry broke his record in 2021.
Recently, Curry was interviewed on The Today Show by Willie Geist. He was asked, “Taking yourself out of the equation, who is the greatest shooter in NBA history?”
“Not me,” Curry replied.
“It is you, but I’m letting you take yourself out of it,” Geist replied.
Curry laughed, “No, I understand that. Um, I would say Ray Allen. I think his form, his dedication to his craft, he hit big shots in his career.”
This was the same interview in which Curry named Jrue Holiday as one of the toughest defenders he has ever faced (Tony Allen and Ron Artest were the others).
Ray Allen Played for the Milwaukee Bucks Longer than He Played for Any Other Team
Allen spent the first six-and-a-half years of his career with the Bucks, making three All-Star teams and was a part of the 2001-team that came within a game of the NBA Championship. They ended up losing Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Philadelphia 76ers led by Allen Iverson.
The 76ers, of course, went on to lose the Finals 4-1 to the Los Angeles Lakers, whom Milwaukee was 2-0 against that season.
Allen was traded in what is often considered one of the worst trades in franchise history to the Seattle Supersonics for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. While with Seattle, Allen budded into a perennial All-Star. From 2003-2008, he was an All-Star every year: each of his full seasons with the Sonics and his first two years with the Boston Celtics.
Allen then helped form one of the NBA’s first super teams when he signed with Boston along with fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. He spent five seasons with the Celtics before finishing his career with two seasons with the Miami Heat.
For his career, Allen averaged 18.9 points while making 2,973 three pointers. He shot an even 40% from three over the course of his career.
In case Bucks fans are wondering, he averaged 19.6 points per game and made 1,051 of his three pointers (shooing 40.6%) while with Milwaukee.