7. Ray Allen
Stats (2013-2014): 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 40 percent from 3
Some may be surprised Allen isn’t ranked higher on this list, after all, he did hit one of the greatest clutch shots in NBA history with “Heat” across his chest.
After a swirl of rumors surrounding Allen and his status with the Boston Celtics during the 2011-12 season, it was evidently clear he had heard enough and signed with Miami via free agency, which may have turned out to be the best basketball choice he ever made.
Exploding right out of the gates, Allen dropped 19 points on 5-for-7 shooting against his former team. During that memorable 2013 season, Allen hit four game winning three pointers during the regular season, and assisted on Chris Bosh’s winning three in San Antonio while both Wade and James sat on the bench.
In the 2013 Playoffs, Allen cemented his legacy in NBA lore forever. Not only did he break the all-time record for most three pointers made in a playoff career, he hit the aforementioned shot heard ’round the world that saved Miami’s season during the waning seconds of Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals.
My favorite part of that entire moment? His famous quote almost directly afterwards:
“Get those motherf***ing ropes outta here!”
Allen would go on to play a big role in getting Miami back to the NBA Finals the following season, and even had a 16-point game against the Spurs in Game 1, despite the high temperatures inside an air conditioning-less AT&T Center.
Despite that, the Heat would go on to lose in five games by a record margin, and Game 5 of that series proved to be the last time we ever saw Allen on a professional basketball court.
He would flirt with the idea of making a comeback for the next two season, but ultimately decided to officially step away from the game last year.