The greatest pure shooter in NBA history — 2,973 career three-pointers and the most clutch shot in Finals history.
Rayford Walter Allen was born in Merced, California in 1975 and attended the University of Connecticut. Milwaukee Bucks selected him fifth overall in the 1996 NBA Draft. His 18-season career produced 2,973 three-pointers — the all-time record when he retired, surpassed only later by Stephen Curry. He won two NBA championships: with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and the Miami Heat in 2013. His corner three in the final seconds of Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals — with the Heat trailing by three points with 5.2 seconds remaining — is the most famous shot in NBA Finals history outside of Michael Jordan. He banked the three off the glass, forced overtime and Miami won the series the following night. He was selected to 10 All-Star games. He averaged 18.9 points per game across his career. He won Olympic gold with the USA in 2000 and 2008. He played the fictional character Jesus Shuttlesworth in Spike Lee's film He Got Game in 1998 — a role that merged his basketball identity with pop culture. His shooting mechanics — textbook release point, consistent arc, balance — are studied by coaches as the gold standard for jump shooting technique.
Greatest three-point shooter in NBA history at time of retirement
How They Played
Elite shooter, excellent off-ball movement, clutch performer
Lasting Impact
Revolutionized three-point shooting and clutch playoff performances
NBA Champion 2x
Career Honours
- NBA Champion 2x
- All-Star 10x
- All-NBA Second Team
- Olympic Gold Medal 2x