Former Miami Heat member Ray Allen fires shots at organization

Former Miami Heat member Ray Allen recently had some not-so-nice things to say about the organization.

Ray Allen seems to be making a good deal of enemies lately.

Earlier this year, the 42-year-old was a persona non grata at Kevin Garnett’s Boston Celtics reunion.

"“People don’t understand that this is real life for us,” explained Garnett. “The situation with Ray is very sensitive. I think when we all talked about doing this reunion tour, we was talking about guys that we consider loyal, part of this group. Just being honest — my two cent, man.”"

And while the Miami Heat still happily accept the star as one of their own, he recently took shots at the organization.

"“With a team as old as we were, and with as much basketball as we’d played, we were still doing a million appearances, we still were having all the practices, and doing all the things that typically wear you down by the end of the year. Just being on your feet so much. The team didn’t learn how to manage our bodies better.”"

Something that apparently was management’s fault.

"“When your players have played in June the last three or four years, by this time you have to figure out how to get people off their feet. We don’t need to have a practice. We don’t need to have a shootaround. We just have to be mental. From those aspects, you wear yourself down long term.”"

Allen also blames their system for why they were unable to win that third championship in a row, against the San Antonio Spurs. Instead, going 4-1 in the 2014 NBA Finals.

This all came out while the guard was promoting his book, “From the Outside: My Journey Through Life and the Game I Love.” After playing in the league from 1996 (when he was drafted No. 5 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but then immediately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks) until 2014 (as a member of the Heat), Allen did not officially retire until November 1, 2016. He won two championships (with Boston and Miami), was a ten time NBA All-Star and won a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. As well as is the league’s all-time leader in career three-point field goals made.

There is no debating whether or not Allen left a highly impressive legacy behind, both in terms of his overall career in the NBA and specifically during his time with the Heat. Which is why it seems beneath him to blame the organization for the team’s shortcomings. Especially after speaking so highly of Miami just six months ago.

Nevertheless, “the shot” will forever go down as one of the best moments in franchise history.

Next: How the Miami Heat can start to find success again

And both the Miami Heat and their fans are grateful to have once been able to call Ray Allen, theirs.