What Ray Allen wants basketball fans, and others interested in his journey, to understand is that these details about his career, some uncomfortable, others shocking and others inspiring, were necessary in recounting his story.
Allen’s autobiography isn’t a tell-all designed to call people out. He said “From the Outside: My Journey Through Life and the Game I Love’’ was an idea that came to him during his younger NBA years, and finally developed following his retirement.
Allen has toured the Northeast for book signings, and he was welcomed warmly last Wednesday at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston for a one-on-one conversation with UConn play-by-play man Joe D’Ambrosio to discuss the book and his storied career.
Allen acknowledged he was uneasy about returning to Boston. He said he has heard so much “vitriol’’ from fans since his departure in 2012. He said he is at peace with his decision but saddened that the Celtic years with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have become more about their breakup than their accomplishments.
Allen touched on his departure, as well as discussions with president of basketball operations Danny Ainge about a possible return two years ago. Allen is filled with memories, strong in his convictions, and comfortable with his image, although disappointed by some perceptions.
On his potential return to TD Garden to watch a game or greet fans:
“I will say that building has meant so much to me over the years. After playing there, it’s hard to play anywhere. I tell people if you want to see a real basketball game, go to the Garden to see how fans interact with their team. I certainly hope [to return].’’
So, what is the story behind Allen not attending Pierce’s number retirement ceremony?
“We talked about how much was made about me not being at Paul’s ceremony, but the interesting thing is how many people told me they didn’t want me to come back, period. And then there’s people who were like, ‘How come you didn’t come back?’
“There clearly is a mending of fences that needs to be had, and that wasn’t the night to do it. I know that time will come, and when it comes I will certainly be happy. I spoke with Paul in China this past year and we got a chance to talk about a lot. I know he was feeling some kind of way, but we hashed that out. When it came down to his [number retirement] day, there was never a conversation about that.’’
Why hasn’t Allen spoken in the past few months about the breakup and leaving the Celtics?
“It didn’t require me to respond. Countless number of players have left teams and gone other places as free agents. When I apologized to Paul, I apologized for not texting him at the moment [I signed with the Heat]. I know I texted KG, whether he wants to admit it or not. It reminded me of the situation when James Posey signed with the Pelicans [in 2008]. He didn’t tell anybody. When he ended up going to New Orleans, everybody was like, ‘Damn James, what happened?’ He was like. ‘Hey, it happened fast.’ I didn’t feel like I had to respond to it, and moved on.
“If the [Celtics] organization doesn’t put that value behind me and show me my worth, then we had to move on.’’
Allen said he’s always been close with Ainge, who he calls the most honest general manager he’s ever dealt with. The two began talking again before the 2016-17 season — the summer that Kevin Durant was considering the Celtics before eventually signing with the Warriors — about a possible return to Boston. Allen had not played since leaving the Heat after the 2013-14 season.
“Even when I almost got traded to Memphis [for O.J. Mayo], he told me he had traded me,’’ Allen said of Ainge. “He’s always been transparent with me. We conversated, and before I thought about [retiring], there was a conversation of [Durant] going to Boston, and the way the [Celtics] positioned themselves, I said this is the one place I would love to come back to and make amends. [Ainge] was excited about it.
“But I don’t think it was met with great zeal upstairs [with Celtics ownership]. I thought if the dominoes fell and [Durant] went to Boston, I thought it would be the perfect fit for me to go back, mending fences and closing out my career.’’
Why didn’t Allen come back at all after that final season with the Heat?
“There was so much speculation [with the Heat] and the team was looking like it was starting to move in a different direction with LeBron [James] going back to Cleveland and everybody going in different directions, and that led me to think, ‘What do I do? Go to Cleveland with LeBron? Or see what’s out there for me?’ We were 18 years [into my career]. I’m not chasing a championship. I just watched for a while to see if anybody created anything that could entice me to get off the couch, and it never happened.’’
Allen said his agent had conversations with the Cavaliers, Rockets, and Bucks, but nothing serious ever came of it.
Has Doc Rivers tried to serve as an intermediary with the Big Three?
“I haven’t talked to Doc in a year. I know he’s dealing with a lot. He’s got what he’s got going, but I haven’t spoken to him about any of this. I purposely have stayed out of it, no matter what I say people have minced my words. So I said, let me not even deal with this because I was disappointed that I had to leave, but I was welcomed with open arms [in Miami] and went somewhere and had an opportunity to win. I didn’t feel like I was in a bad place.
“To play in Boston was a true privilege and I don’t take that lightly. When I came there, you feel really a part of something. I don’t take that lightly.’’
What is Allen’s side of his departure from Boston?
“It didn’t have nothing to do with Miami at the time. That was the year Jeff Green was out with the heart surgery [2011-12], so everybody that came back, they signed [as free agents]. Meanwhile, [I’m] over here like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to figure out what we want to do because we’ve got to get in front of this.’
“I’m like, ‘Let’s get this done.’ Once they starting signing everybody else, they pushed me down, and I can see it. My agent kept saying, ‘They’re not calling me back and they’re saying we’re going to wait and do your contract.’ You’re not placing any value on me to get anything done. That was the situation. That was the one thing I regret, I didn’t speak for myself. Once I realized they were going to give me what was left, I understand where you’re placing my value. It’s time for me to go.’’
Allen then signed a two-year deal with the Heat and helped Miami win a championship and make another appearance in the NBA Finals. Allen’s relationship with Pierce, Garnett, and Rajon Rondo was heavily damaged by his defection from Boston.
Allen is hoping the book offers some explanations and gives his perspective on some of his decisions. There are those Celtics fans who will never forgive Allen for leaving Boston and officially breaking up the Big Three. There are teammates who still grumble about not being contacted when Allen decided to sign with Miami.
This is Allen’s opportunity to address those issues, reveal his thoughts, and perhaps mend fences.
“If you knew where this book started, we had to cut so much out,’’ he said. “I’m writing this book in the middle of everything that’s being said about it. I’m disappointed that this stuff is going on. When my book comes out I get a chance to explain it. Too many times people have minced my words. That’s the one thing I didn’t want anybody to take out of context. To understand where I got to, understand the genesis of my thoughts. When you understand that you will least say, ‘I may not understand their decision but I respect it.’
“It’s not a tell-all book. It’s a book about my life. These are my truths.’’
ETC.
Seeking solution to one-and-done
McDonald’s All-American Darius Bazley made the bold move last week to decommit from Syracuse and opt to play in the G-League, after which he will be eligible for the NBA Draft in 2019. Bazley wants to play professional basketball and chose the G-League, which pays first-year players $19,000.
NCAA president Mark Emmert, who spoke to the Globe last week, said he has no issues with high school prospects who are only attending college because of the one-and-done rule to skip college and play professionally.
Emmanuel Mudiay, Brandon Jennings, and Jeremy Tyler are other players who passed on scholarships to play overseas. Bazley is the first player to enter the G-League directly.
The NCAA would like to ditch the one-and-done rule — as would the NBA — but Emmert stressed his organization had nothing to do with the implementation of the rule in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
“We, of course, aren’t a party to their collective bargaining agreement where the one-and-done rule is discussed, and so that’s strictly up to them to decide and that’s not our business,’’ Emmert said. “When you look at developing youngsters in high school, we need a better model, a better professional track, if you will. We can contribute to that. The NFL can contribute to that. USA Basketball can contribute to it. We need to do more collaboratively around that space, especially focused on that small number, let’s say 100 kids, who have professional potential and they are often identified pretty early. So OK, let’s help those kids get ready. Some of them may want to go to college, some of them may not.’’
Emmert said he is open to working with NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the Players Association on a viable plan that would work for both sides. Both agree that forcing prospects to either attend college or spend a year in professional basketball, but not be able to play in the NBA, is a failed system.
“We can do that together. Absolutely. I don’t know anybody in college sports that is pleased with the one-and-done rule,’’ Emmert said. “It often restricts a young person from going professionally. They’ll spend a very brief period of time on campus, which is a good thing for them but maybe not as good as going and earning a living. And it does create some dysfunctionalities in all this.’’
Meanwhile, the NCAA and NBA are still disconnected on the early-entry process. If a college prospect declares for the draft, he has until April 10 to withdraw his name and return to school per NCAA rules. Meanwhile, the NBA gives prospects until April 29 to declare and June 11 to withdraw. That makes no sense for prospects who may be pondering the draft but aren’t certain first-round picks.
There have been suggestions that college players who go undrafted could be allowed to return to school, but that would damage recruiting cycles for college coaches, who desire to have the declaration deadline as early as possible so they can manage their rosters.
The NCAA Tournament has been a ratings wonder because of teams such as Loyola Chicago and UMBC. The Final Four lacks a likely one-and-done candidate, an indication that veteran teams are making more of an impact.
Emmert would like the most talented players to stay in school for more than one year.
“The great thing about the tournament is it’s utterly unpredictability and we call it March Madness for a reason, because you just don’t know,’’ he said. “It’s always fun to see a team that’s an unheralded team play together. Loyola is a perfect example, play really great team ball, not a lot of five-star recruits but playing really, really well. Very well-coached. I think all of America likes those kind of stories — they’re fun, they’re exciting, and we’re going to wind up with a combination of the big names and the new names.’’
And what about UMBC, with potential NBA prospect Jairus Myles, and its upset of top-seeded Virginia?
“I think it is good for the game because I think it demonstrates that everybody has to bring their best game,’’ Emmert said. “Virginia is a wonderful, wonderful team and the No. 1 seed in the country, and I, like everybody else, thought that was well-deserved. You’ve got to play at that level every night.
“It adds a level of enthusiasm to these games that make it an unparalleled sporting event. It is good. Basketball, of course, is a really terrific game also because you don’t need, like football, 40 guys to make a great team. You just need a handful. And that’s what you see. It’s a game where well-coached, disciplined teams that may not have all the All-Stars on them can play very, very well. Even the smaller conferences can play great basketball and that’s what we’re seeing this year.’’
Layups
The NBA’s Draft Lottery is May 15, which is before the Draft Combine, meaning teams will know where they are drafting before interviewing prospects. The Combine has been held before the lottery in recent years. Since teams get to interview a limited number of prospects over the two-day period, it’s better and more efficient for teams to know their draft position going into the Combine . . . Former lottery pick Trey Burke is turning himself into a marketable free agent with his play for the Knicks over the past month. Burke was waived by the Knicks in the preseason and then joined their G-League affiliate. He was brought back up in January and entered Saturday averaging 14.7 points and 4.7 assists and shooting 51.2 percent from the field in March. He dropped 42 points on the Hornets last Monday, to go with 12 assists. The Knicks have some decisions to make at point guard. They acquired former Nuggets lottery pick Emmanuel Mudiay, but he’s been a major disappointment. Rookie Frank Ntilikina has turned out to be a plus-defender but a poor shooter, but doesn’t turn 20 until July 28. And then there’s Burke, still young enough (25) to make a major impact in the league, but perhaps it may be with another club. Burke fell out of favor in Utah because of his inability to distribute and defend, but he has worked on his offensive efficiency and is playing with more passion and intensity . . . LiAngelo Ball is entering the NBA Draft. He had nothing to lose after foregoing his college eligibility following his suspension at UCLA and signing with a Lithuanian team. If he goes undrafted, he can sign with a G-League team or return overseas. If he gets drafted, he’s a project. It’s highly unlikely Ball, a 6-foot-5-inch shooting guard, will get drafted. He was projected as a mid-major-caliber player coming out of Chino Hills in California and signed with UCLA as a package deal with brother Lonzo.
Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @GwashburnGlobe. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
