{"id":330738,"date":"2025-10-09T11:03:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T11:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/330738\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T11:03:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T11:03:50","slug":"stop-running-from-the-smoke-ray-allens-message-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/330738\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Stop Running From The Smoke\u2019: Ray Allen\u2019s Message To\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, Melbourne NBA fans were witness to sporting history when the New Orleans Pelicans touched down in Australia\u2019s unofficial sporting capital to play the first-ever NBA game on Aussie soil. The Pelicans faced off against NBL\u2019s Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix in two preseason matches at Rod Laver Arena, bringing the NBA<\/a> heat to Aussie soil.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re talking superstar Zion Williamson baptising our rims, while shiny new Pelicans Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney made their debut for the franchise.<\/p>\n

Along for the ride was NBA legend and Hall of Famer Ray Allen, and PEDESTRIAN.TV pinned him down for an exclusive one-on-one interview while he was Down Under.\n<\/p>\n

Now, for any Gen Alphas or cuspers who may think SGA or Luka Doncic is the greatest thing since LeBron James, Allen is widely considered to be in the OG god tier shooters of all time (Steph Curry is still #1, obviously, but Ray was first). Many argue the man saved LBJ\u2019 career with his infamous clutch, game-tying three in game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. You\u2019re welcome, Bron.<\/p>\n

Aussie basketball is blowing up. This year, a record-tying four Aussies were picked in the 2025 NBA Draft (the most since 1997), including names you must remember: Alex Toohey to Golden State Warriors, Rocco Zikarsky to Minnesota Timberwolves, Tyrese Proctor to Cleveland Cavaliers and Lachlan Olbrich to Chicago Bulls.<\/p>\n

\"\"Alex Toohey #22 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game. (Image source: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

With this in mind, P.TV asked Ray Allen if he had a message for young Australian basketball players chasing their NBA dream. Allen\u2019s advice was brutally honest.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop running from the smoke. A lot of times the kids are afraid to go where the best competition is,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like [kids] want to stay in these spaces where they\u2019re the best, so they\u2019re the biggest, or they\u2019re the smartest, and if that\u2019s the case, you\u2019re in the wrong place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The secret? Go where you\u2019ll get humbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to where the best competition is and if you become the best in that room, then it\u2019s time to move rooms,\u201d Allen continued. \u201cYou go to where the best is and you learn from what they do to make them the best. That\u2019s how you eventually one day will become the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

(It was in stark contrast to his former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, also in Melbourne, who told a room full of kids on school holidays that \u201cI don\u2019t care what anybody tells you fuck \u2018em. If you love it, you believe in it, you believe in yourself, you chase that shit. You hear me?\u201d Classic KG. Perfect, no notes.)<\/p>\n

\"\"Ray Allen (2L) and Kevin Garnett (R) speak during a New Orleans Pelicans open training session at Rod Laver Arena. (Image source: Getty Images)
\n\"\"Kevin Garnett speaks during a New Orleans Pelicans open training session at Rod Laver Arena. (Image source: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Being the best is about more than rings; it\u2019s about leaving a cultural legacy. Allen has been name-dropped by everyone from Drake<\/a> to Playboi Carti<\/a>, from Bow Wow in the 00s and 1900Rugrat just this year (\u201cI don\u2019t talk about too much. Feel like Ray Allen, they done subbed me in and I done clutched\u201d), so we asked Allen how it felt to have transcended basketball and become cemented in pop culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always great to leave good things out there that people have good things to talk about,\u201d he said<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever you\u2019re in a rap song, it seems as though there\u2019s respect that\u2019s being paid to you and your craft.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allen touched on the dark side of modern fame in the social media era, where moments get turned into memes. (See: the never-ending Kawhi Leonard laughing memes<\/a>, the constant fan commentary on Zion Williamson\u2019s physique<\/a> and the Brooklyn Nets Kevin Garnett meme<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\u201cNowadays with social media, so many things can go wrong where you almost get bullied online,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always great to leave good things out there that people have good things to talk about. It certainly is always a great honour because a lot of rappers play basketball. It\u2019s a nod to the legacy of who I\u2019ve been and what my career has meant to other people.\u201d <\/p>\n

Speaking at the NBA Store\u2019s SlamPay event in Melbourne, Allen didn\u2019t hesitate when naming the ultimate role model for young Aussie ballers: Patty Mills.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201c[He\u2019s] won championships in San Antonio,\u201d Allen said. \u201cPatty is not a big player but he has a big heart and he\u2019s a great example for all young [Australians]. Patty\u2019s been a great example. He\u2019s been a great ambassador for Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"PTV\u2019s James Emmanuel and Ray Allen. (Image source: Supplied)<\/p>\n

Later at a Slampay fan event at the official NBA Store, Allen spilled some technical tea for you ballers perfecting your three-point shooting: when practising your shot, quality over quantity is key.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many times will you in a game be standing still flat-footed and shoot the ball? Zero. So why would you practice that way?\u201d Allen asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to practice like the biggest guy in the world is guarding you and he can jump through the roof\u2026 Imagine the best player in your league or let\u2019s imagine LeBron James is guarding you. He jumps up and tries to block your jump shot. Now, that\u2019s how you have to train (like) Lebron is in front of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Basically, work smarter \u2014 we hear you, Ray.<\/p>\n

This author travelled to Melbourne courtesy of Visit Victoria.<\/p>\n

Image source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

The post \u2018Stop Running From The Smoke\u2019: Ray Allen\u2019s Message To Aussies Chasing The NBA Dream<\/a> appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV <\/a>.<\/p>\n