Tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies are honoring one of their all-time greats, Tony Allen, with a jersey retirement ceremony.
Allen, who played for the Grizzlies from 2010 to 2017, was a key figure in the team’s “Grit ‘n’ Grind” era and became synonymous with the team’s tough, defensive-minded identity.
Known affectionately as “The Grindfather,” Allen’s defensive prowess and relentless play helped define a memorable era for Memphis basketball.
Though longtime teammate Mike Conley couldn’t attend the ceremony due to his current duties with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he still made sure to send his well-wishes through a video message, as reported by Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian.
In the video, Conley reflected on the formation of the “Grit ‘n’ Grind” mentality, stating, “We embraced it. It became our identity.”
Conley acknowledged that, while he might not be the loudest or most physical player, the presence of Allen, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph alongside him on the court made him feel like a much more formidable player.
“I’m not the loudest person or most physical person in the world, but I felt like I was when I was out there with Tony and Marc (Gasol) and Zach (Randolph). Together we were like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna beat you up.’
“That’s just who we felt like we were, and it kind of started with that phrase and the personnel behind it because we didn’t just say it, we actually believed it and acted on that. And nobody could tell us different.”
Grizzlies Notes: Morant, Wells, Edey, Williams, Allen https://t.co/OVih58jOlT pic.twitter.com/HrtYNZJoRR
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 16, 2025
