Top 9 of # 9 - Tony Allen

[jmmintz]

My wife and I moved to Memphis from Atlanta the summer of 2003. We bought a ten-game pack of Grizz tickets that fall when the team still played in the Pyramid (which is now the largest Bass Pro Shops store in the world).

We were there for the first playoff run when they got swept by the Spurs.

And the next year when they got swept again...again by the Spurs.

And the year after that, another sweep (this time by the Mavs).

Not long after that, the team was dreadful, but we stayed true to the team, eventually splitting full-season tickets with friends.

For a small-market team, it's imperative to build through the draft, but we watched bungled pick after bungled pick (Hasheem Thabeet, anyone?).

Through a miracle of reclamation projects, and a brother-for-brother trade that was widely panned that worked out in the best way, we watched the birth of an era.

The Grit and Grind era.

The cornerstone of that was the Grindfather - Tony Allen. It was after a game (and sadly, which one escapes me at the moment) that, in a postgame interview, he stated they won with "All Heart. Grit. Grind."

The term stuck.

TA and Zach Randolph were the embodiment of basketball in this city. It was never pretty, but it was hard-nosed, dirty, and blue collar.

My family loved watching TA - for better (Kobe Bryant said Tony was the best defender he ever faced) or for worse (the guaranteed bricked layups and at-times awful shot selection).

So...he became my main PC guy (if you've got any, even base, that I don't have I'm interested.)

In honor of #9, the Grindfather, here are my top 9 Tony Allen cards. These aren't necessarily my rarest, or most valuable, but they're my favorites.


#9:

This came in the other day - it's #9/29 - the fact that it's his Grizz jersey number was complete coincidence. I love that the green card matches his green Celtics uniform.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/y5c0339fx450.jpg

[jrussell_sig]

The Grindfather!!!!! First Team All Defense!!!! Can't wait to see the rest.

[smalltown]

Very nice! Looking forward to this!

[rdleifriaf]

Loved watching Tony Allen smother and frustrate guards with his relentless D

[Oldschool42]

Wish the C’s didn’t let him go. Great defender.

[SHowley2003]

Wish the C’s didn’t let him go. Great defender.

He sealed his fate when he blew out his ACL showboating. He needed a change of scenery to fully develop. He was too focused on his offensive game in Boston. Felt he had to be Pierce’s #2 for some reason. Remember all those possessions where he would dribble for 10 seconds not knowing where to go before turning the ball over? I love TA, but he truly matured in Memphis.

I’m so excited for this thread. It’s off to a great start.

[vto47]

ohhhh man, I love Tony Allen!!!

[SPauthentic84]

Trick or Treat Tony

[jmmintz]

#8

This would be higher up the list, but while it literally says "Rookie Patch Autograph" on top of the card, calling that white swatch of fabric a patch is generous.

The Exquisite RPA is basically THE rookie auto to get of anyone, so this was one I knew I had to have. I still track them on eBay and occasionally see white & green ones come up, but they always end up going for more than I'm willing to pay for what amounts to a replacement card.

But, it's got a clean, bold auto, a nice photo of a young TA chillin', and no top list would be complete without an Exquisite RPA.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/2u028t8mx450.jpg

[the34truth]

Share the love for TA. Thanks for sharing!

The first few seasons of this guy was sometimes hard to watch, basketball IQ was questionable. Fouled on Chauncey Billups last second pump fake at least twice and lost those games, plus that almost career ending injury dunk after whistle. While I loved Delonte and Big Al much more, TA stayed on and developed an elite on ball defense.....

As for 04-05, although exquisite rpa is always the rc to get, the ultimate rpa /25 and the trilogy rpa /10 were more appealing and scarce.

[The Zodiac]

Very nice!

[jmmintz]

#7

I dig this one, the Skybox Rubies /75, because it's just a clean, simple design on a rookie parallel. I'm trying to track the Emerald /15 down to go along with this and the base /999, but those aren't easy to come by (never seen one).

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/imwjp431x450.jpg

[kukocitb]

NICE stuff so far! Cannot wait to see the rest!

[celtics]

Very nice, I always wish the Celtics hung onto him

[jmmintz]

#6

This is the last non-Grizz TA on my list. Again - this isn't my most valuable, or rarest...just my favorite (I may put an honorable mention after with the handful that didn't make the cut).

Not sure I need to say anything about this one - it's a rookie Topps Chrome Gold Refractor. Topps made a handful of variations on this one, but I think the Gold always has a special place amongst collectors. Plus, gold's an accent color for certain year Celtics jerseys and goes well with the green, so...here we are.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/a51zxo84x450.jpg

[SHowley2003]

#6

This is the last non-Grizz TA on my list. Again - this isn't my most valuable, or rarest...just my favorite (I may put an honorable mention after with the handful that didn't make the cut).

Not sure I need to say anything about this one - it's a rookie Topps Chrome Gold Refractor. Topps made a handful of variations on this one, but I think the Gold always has a special place amongst collectors. Plus, gold's an accent color for certain year Celtics jerseys and goes well with the green, so...here we are.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/a51zxo84x450.jpg

This is my favorite so far. I love Gold Refractors and having a rookie year gold refractor of a PC player special. Great card.

[The Zodiac]

Sweet! if this is the last Celtic uniformed card, than I am done following this thread, lol

[volblorx8634]

That Chrome Rookie Gold refractor is awesome! That year is a particularly nice design, and the gold does really go well with the green. I really wanna pick up a Mike Bibby Topps Chrome Gold refractor soon.

[Deadshot]

2004 is my favorite Topps Chrome design!

[SHowley2003]

2004 is my favorite Topps Chrome design!

Interesting. I love 2004 but I think 2008 & 2009 are the at the “Topp” of the list for me. High quality gold refractor effects, clean designs and amazing action shots. Regardless this is an excellent card the OP shared.

[ljandkg]

2004 is my favorite Topps Chrome design!

It's my least favourite, Topps Gold looks like Topps Brown!

[Deadshot]

I think it's the team logo in the bottom middle that does it for me. Now if only the set had Jeff Foster or Ron Artest...

[jmmintz]

#5

We hit the Grizzlies portion of this list.

2012-13 Panini Signatures is, IMO, an underrated set. A lot of folk hate predominantly white cards, but personally, I really like them. I'm a graphic designer - I think negative space is a GOOD thing. So - clean design up top but they tastefully worked in a color headshot at the bottom along with the team logo.

That, and a decent chunk of the autos in this set are on-card. One of my favorite cards I own is a Bill Russell auto out of this set - it's low-numbered and on-card.

Which brings us to TA's line in this set. There are definitely a lot of variations, which is a common gripe about this set. I've got three - the base /10, a die-cut /5, and this one. I went with this because it's the lowest-numbered I have at /3 and it has the cleanest auto.

Off-topic side note: I was at a show here in Memphis and a dealer had one lone box of this. I passed because I was certain that the biggest hit would be an Andrew Nicholson auto or some crap like that.

Nope.

Dealer opened it and pulled an Anthony Davis auto (which, for those keeping score, is a RC auto).

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/2e054d2px450.jpg

[jrussell_sig]

Never leave the last pack, box, etc.

[jmmintz]

Never leave the last pack, box, etc. when it's at Mickey's table

Fixed it for you.

[SHowley2003]

#5

We hit the Grizzlies portion of this list.

2012-13 Panini Signatures is, IMO, an underrated set. A lot of folk hate predominantly white cards, but personally, I really like them. I'm a graphic designer - I think negative space is a GOOD thing. So - clean design up top but they tastefully worked in a color headshot at the bottom along with the team logo.

That, and a decent chunk of the autos in this set are on-card. One of my favorite cards I own is a Bill Russell auto out of this set - it's low-numbered and on-card.

Which brings us to TA's line in this set. There are definitely a lot of variations, which is a common gripe about this set. I've got three - the base /10, a die-cut /5, and this one. I went with this because it's the lowest-numbered I have at /3 and it has the cleanest auto.

Off-topic side note: I was at a show here in Memphis and a dealer had one lone box of this. I passed because I was certain that the biggest hit would be an Andrew Nicholson auto or some crap like that.

Nope.

Dealer opened it and pulled an Anthony Davis auto (which, for those keeping score, is a RC auto).

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/2e054d2px450.jpg

I agree that 2012-13 Signatures is an underappreciated release. I loved the film cards. It's too bad that the TA is a sticker. As you mentioned there is a large percentage of the cards that are on-card.

[lane121]

Love the list so far and TA. "Trick-or-treat," for sure, but always entertaining to watch as a Grizz fan.

[Bobbyplaza133]

Great cards so far.

[jmmintz]

#4

Gala is a solid overall set for a lot of reasons, but this card is one of my favorites. I know most folk hedge towards action photography, and I usually do also. But there's something about the image here that, to me, encapsulates Tony.

I've got so many great Tony Allen stories from games we were at that don't happen on TV - stuff that happens during time outs or commercial breaks.

I'm not sure I ever saw him in the team huddle while the coach was drawing up a play. He'd generally be on the outskirts watching whatever was happening on the jumbotron, or talking to a fan (to be fair, it's not like they were calling an offensive play for him anyway).

The occasional time he WAS in a team huddle, it was when he'd wander to the OPPOSING team's huddle and stand there.

And then, there's this (which I swear I've seen him do in person as well), when he just strolled through the kids dancing on the Warriors floor during the playoffs. On purpose? Completely oblivious? The chances are equal.

It's at the 1:30 mark
https://youtu.be/ee9W_4EcMMw

Dude was a clown, in the best sense of the word. So, I love this card for a few reasons:

Clean, on-card auto.
Low print run at /25.
Most of all, though - the image and the irony that this subset is called
Genregraphs: Comedy.

Of all of Tony's traits, his unintentional comedy factor is one of my favorites.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/d9a6vtstx450.jpg

[jmmintz]

#3

The home stretch is here!

This card is one of my absolute favorites. It's got a great patch, a clean card design, and a low-serial number. For those that care (I don't), it's got the added bonus of being 01/10. Only way this gets better for me is if it was auto'd.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/5taj2sku.jpg

[SHowley2003]

#3

The home stretch is here!

This card is one of my absolute favorites. It's got a great patch, a clean card design, and a low-serial number. For those that care (I don't), it's got the added bonus of being 01/10. Only way this gets better for me is if it was auto'd.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/5taj2sku.jpg

The photo is classic! Did he just catch a pass too hard and it hit him in the wrong spot or does he need to pass the ball and can’t figure out what to do with it? Both are valid options with TA.

[jmmintz]

The photo is classic! Did he just catch a pass too hard and it hit him in the wrong spot or does he need to pass the ball and can’t figure out what to do with it? Both are valid options with TA.

Sad, but true.

[Noles939913]

#4

Gala is a solid overall set for a lot of reasons, but this card is one of my favorites. I know most folk hedge towards action photography, and I usually do also. But there's something about the image here that, to me, encapsulates Tony.

I've got so many great Tony Allen stories from games we were at that don't happen on TV - stuff that happens during time outs or commercial breaks.

I'm not sure I ever saw him in the team huddle while the coach was drawing up a play. He'd generally be on the outskirts watching whatever was happening on the jumbotron, or talking to a fan (to be fair, it's not like they were calling an offensive play for him anyway).

The occasional time he WAS in a team huddle, it was when he'd wander to the OPPOSING team's huddle and stand there.

And then, there's this (which I swear I've seen him do in person as well), when he just strolled through the kids dancing on the Warriors floor during the playoffs. On purpose? Completely oblivious? The chances are equal.

It's at the 1:30 mark
https://youtu.be/ee9W_4EcMMw

Dude was a clown, in the best sense of the word. So, I love this card for a few reasons:

Clean, on-card auto.
Low print run at /25.
Most of all, though - the image and the irony that this subset is called
Genregraphs: Comedy.

Of all of Tony's traits, his unintentional comedy factor is one of my favorites.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/d9a6vtstx450.jpg

Haha what was his nickname for Conley when he had to wear the facemask. One Eyed Willie or something?

[jmmintz]

#2

Alas, the penultimate in my top 9. This one was pretty much a no-brainer. It's Prizm (and one of the line's stronger designs). It's a 1/1.

It's got a solid image, and if I was a betting man outside of the blackjack table, I'd say he came up short and clanked this dunk off the front of the rim.

It was the first rainbow I put together.

It's just a solid, solid card.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's final card on my list, and it's going be a shocker (as much as a meaningless list on a message board about sports cards pertaining to a borderline meaningless player can be a shocker).

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/szdh55ghx450.jpg

[kb 24]

That Prizm with the dunking image is great and I really like the Gala :)!

[jmmintz]

#1

And here we are, at the end of my journey down the rabbit hole (until I inevitably post an honorable mention post after we get back from vacation).

My favorite Tony Allen card. And, as I teased yesterday, this isn't a big card per se.

But - it IS Tony Allen in a nutshell.

This is from 2014/15 Hoops - and it's my favorite because of the photo. Hoops may be a low-end set, but it has the best photography by far, and this image is Tony Allen personified. My guess here is the preceding play he shut down Kobe, and did what TA does - he let the whole world know about it.

From his "First Team" screams to his first down points to the documented-below flex, he took more pride in defense than I think anyone I've ever watched, and he did it better than anyone.

I remember one play in particular, and sadly don't recall who it was against, but the player had the all at the three point line, and pump-faked. TA fell for it and flew by...but mid-air and falling away from the play, he stuck his hand in the shooter's face, who bricked the shot now that they didn't have their eyes on the rim. It's that kind of defensive genius that made TA a defensive force.

So, it's been a fun trip down card-memory lane with TA. Hope y'all enjoyed it as much as I did.

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/ft13dm32x450.jpg

[SHowley2003]

Great stuff. Being a C’s fan your stories brought back so many memories of TA’s time in Boston. The exclamation mark on his time in Boston was when he got fouled out at the arc at a meaningless point in a meaningless game and decided to showboat after the whistle with a fancy dunk. He came down awkwardly and tore his ACL.

I love that Hoops is your #1. I totally agree with your take on the product. I’ve never busted a box, but I always hunt down singles for my PC. Spoiler alert, I have a running Jaylen Brown thread up and I logged on to update it. Today’s update? Hoops!

Thanks for taking the time to share part of your collection. I’ve really enjoyed following this thread.

[jmmintz]

Bumping this for a big-time addition and new #1 contender:

2004-05 E-XL Essential Credentials Future /13

I have NEVER seen one of these up for sale. Condition isn't great, and but again - never seen one of these for sale.

When this went up on eBay, there was no number too high for me to pay, and a shade over $40 and it came home to my PC where it belongs :)

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/128zp679x450.jpg

[2010GBPackers]

Love it! Tony Allen's brother actually played here in Milwaukee for UWM a few years back. They look a lot alike. Was ever a better defender than Allen? He's definitely up there in the top 5 for me. Love to see another PC thread bumped. I like watching and semi-collecting Luka and Zion as much as anyone, but for God's sake, the NBA existed before they came along.

[jmmintz]

Love it! Tony Allen's brother actually played here in Milwaukee for UWM a few years back. They look a lot alike. Was ever a better defender than Allen? He's definitely up there in the top 5 for me. Love to see another PC thread bumped. I like watching and semi-collecting Luka and Zion as much as anyone, but for God's sake, the NBA existed before they came along.

Dude was a defensive savant, for sure. There's a reason this exists :)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcNA-FmVIAAncU1?format=jpg&name=360x360

Throughout his 20-year NBA career, Kobe Bryant has gone head-to-head with some of the top perimeter defenders in NBA history.

Of all those years, and all those players, he gives credit to one man as the "best defender" he's ever faced: Tony Allen.

Neither player was active for Friday night's game as the Lakers fell to the Grizzlies, but Bryant presented Allen with a gift, which Allen later shared on Twitter.

The autograph reads: "To Tony, the best defender I ever faced!"

[2010GBPackers]

Dude was a defensive savant, for sure. There's a reason this exists :)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcNA-FmVIAAncU1?format=jpg&name=360x360

Throughout his 20-year NBA career, Kobe Bryant has gone head-to-head with some of the top perimeter defenders in NBA history.

Of all those years, and all those players, he gives credit to one man as the "best defender" he's ever faced: Tony Allen.

Neither player was active for Friday night's game as the Lakers fell to the Grizzlies, but Bryant presented Allen with a gift, which Allen later shared on Twitter.

The autograph reads: "To Tony, the best defender I ever faced!"


Oh my God! Even the Mamba knew. I would pay a pretty penny for those shoes. Priceless for Tony, though, I'm sure.