When Ray Allen watched the confetti fall at AT&T Center after the San Antonio Spurs dispatched his Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, it certainly wasn’t the way he wanted his season to end.
It very well may be how he ends his NBA career.
The 38-year-old Allen addressed questions about his future after Sunday night’s loss and said he’ll decide in the next few days whether he plans to return next season.
“I’ve had a great career, I’m content with what I’ve done,” Allen said, via ESPN. “It’s hard to think past this moment. In the next couple of days I’ll think about it and see where my true heart lies.”
Allen has had many seminal moments over his 18-year career, including an epic performance with the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in which he hit seven three-pointers to clinch his first career NBA championship .
While Allen has yet to make a decision either way, he insisted on Sunday that the final word would come down to him and him alone.
“One thing is for certain, to [make retirement decision] on my terms is the most important thing,” Allen said. “Whether that is me retiring, staying here or going somewhere else it will be on my terms. I’ve made it to this point and I felt great that I have the choice to make it for myself.”
Allen’s teammate, Shane Battier, was less indecisive, making his retirement official on Sunday after 13 NBA seasons.
“I’ve given everything I can to the game and I don’t have any more to give,” Battier said. “And I’m OK with it.”
Photo via Twitter/@HistoryOfNBA
