The wait is over – for now. After months of league-wide speculation regarding where he would sign late this season, future Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen announced that he’ll sit out 2014-2015’s remainder and make a decision on his playing future this summer.
Below are relevant portions of a press release by Tandem Sports, Allen’s agency.
Ten-time NBA All-Star Ray Allen will not play during the 2014-15 NBA season, announced his agent Jim Tanner, President of Tandem Sports + Entertainment. Allen will take the remainder of this season and the off-season to reassess for the 2015-16 NBA season.
“Over the past several months, I have taken a lot of time to deliberate what is best for me,” Allen said. “I’ve ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I’m going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the upcoming off-season, to reassess my situation, spend time with my family and determine if I will play in the 2015-16 season.”
This news confirms a report from late last month that suggested Allen was leaning towards sitting out this season as opposed to joining a contender so late in the game. Once another story emerged days later that said the 39 year-old wouldn’t be signing with the supposedly frontrunning Cleveland Cavaliers, the writing was on the wall concerning his playing status.
Despite whispers of his eventual destination dating back to last June, Allen never explicitly said he’d suit-up in 2014-2015. And though he likewise hasn’t indicated plans to retire, that indeed seems the most likely scenario given his age, effectiveness last season, and year spent away from the game.
We’ll keep you updated on Allen’s plans as the situation develops.
