Retired All-Star Ray Allen Debriefs Difference Between Playing On Miami Heat, Boston Celtics

Anthony Pasciolla | Mar 30, 2024

Aug 12, 2023; Springfield, MA, USA; Ray Allen arrives at Symphony Hall for the 2023 Basketball Hall / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Retired Miami Heat guard Ray Allen was most known for his years of success with the Boston Celtics, but valued his time in Miami to a different magnitude.

During his time with the Celtics, Allen was named a three-time All-Star while averaging 18.2 points in his best season. The 10-time All-Star understood what made the Heat unique compared to other teams despite a short two-year stint with the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. He recently explained the vast difference between the environment with the Heat and Celtics on 'The Old Man and the Three' podcast with former player JJ Redick.

"In Boston, everybody would typically shoot and do their own thing. In Miami, it was interesting because LeBron always wanted the smoke LeBron was always like 'C'mon let's go shoot free throws' And it was a competition and that camaraderie and that competition is what I miss because we just practiced for 2 hours to 3 hours but now the real dudes step up," Allen said.

Allen played with some of the most talented groups in league history, but the off-court setting stood out. James and Bosh joined the Heat with a single goal in mind: to win as many titles as possible. Although the trio split with two rings, their four consecutive NBA Finals appearances were some of the most electric in recent memory.

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla