Are You a Ray or Reggie?

[Ed Monix]

Two paths diverged in a wood…

It’s interesting how these two Hall-of-Fame players could be similar, yet so different.

Ray Allen is perhaps the overall more talented player and ended up with two championship rings, yet he belongs to no team or fan base.  His longest stay at a franchise was with the Milwaukee Bucks (7 years) but made very little lasting impact.

Ray Allen CV

 
 1  x Olympic Gold Medal
 2  x NBA Championships
10 x NBA All-Star
 1  x All-NBA Second Team
 1  x All-NBA Third Team

75th NBA Anniversary Team

24,505 (18.9 PPG)
5,272   (4.1 RPG)
4,361   (3.3 AST)

—————————

Reggie Miller had the story book career, without the story book ending. He was boo’d by the Indiana Pacer fans when drafted and retired a local hero and face of the franchise.

Reggie Miller CV

1 x Olympic Gold Medal
5 x NBA All-Star
3 x All-NBA Third Team

#31 Retired by Indiana Pacers

75th NBA Anniversary Team

25,279 (18.2 PPG)
4,182   (3.0 RPG)
4,141   (3.0 AST)

[JohnBoy65]

Simple for me: Ray Allen. If I am competing at the highest level, all I care about is championships. Reggie's story is nice, and I am sure being a part of one franchise for your whole life is awesome, but for me, I'd rather have rings.

 I'd argue Ray belongs to Boston, especially since the KG number retirement ceremony. I know it was a shorter stint, but as time moves on people become more forgiving. He was an integral part of that '08 championship. For Miami, he had an integral play. I would guess Boston means more to him.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'd rather look like Ray Allen, but is that what we are talking about?

[knuckleballer]

That’s a tough one.  I feel like Allen had the better career, but Miller had bigger moments. 

Can we include costarring with Denzel Washington in a pretty good movie?   

[Who]

Ray was the better player but Reggie's career was more iconic. He shaped a city for 20 years and will be cherished for a long time. Where is Ray cherished? Nowhere. He moved around too much. 

Reggie.

[Big333223]

Ray was the better player, won championships where Reggie didn't, and arguably has the more iconic moment of the two (Ray's 3 in Game 6 of the '13 finals is at least on par with Reggie's 8-points-in-10-seconds).

I get the appeal of having the love of a fanbase but I got Ray.

[Ed Monix]

I think that Reggie would have got a championship in 2004-05 under Rick Carlisle. The only thing that stopped the Pacers was Ron Artest and ‘The Malice at the Palace’.

Tinsley
Miller
Jackson
Artest
O’Neal

[Wretch]

Who was the best play Reggie Miller played with, Rik Smits?

The 2nd half of Ray Allen's career he was surrounded by HOFers and All-Stars. Those players made Allen's life much easier.  He seldom faced a teams best defender and typically had more space to play.

Ray Allen had more "accolades" than Miller but I think there is an argument for Miller as the better player.  Especially if you adjust for the fact Miller played against teams like the Riley Knicks in era where scoring was harder and defenses more physical.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Ray. If Celtics fans could separate their dislike of his move to Miami, I think the answer becomes clear. Championships matter…. a lot. Ask Charles Barkley. He accomplished many things, except for the one thing that matters the most.

[Moranis]

If Reggie actually lived in Indiana, then maybe the appeal of a fan base would matter, but Reggie lives in Malibu or some place like that in California.  He has no real connection to the fanbase and doesn't interact with them on a regular basis. 

The answer is pretty clearly Allen.  He had a much better career. 

[slamtheking]

Ray.  better career figures, more awards/recognition.  2 titles.  not sure how it's a debate.

[Roy H.]

Ray all day.

Beyond the stats and the titles, he got to play with some great players.  Pierce, KG, Lebron, Wade, Bosh.  Reggie has Chuck Person, Rik Smits, Jermaine O'Neal and Detlef Schrempf.

That said, Reggie seems content with his career.  He was given the chance to join the 2008 Celts, and declined.

[BASS_THUMPER]

Met him out here  in Palm Springs

I'm 6'5 and  I had to look up at him..

He got some pretty eyes tho....


*sippin*

[Roy H.]

Met him out here  in Palm Springs

I'm 6'5 and  I had to look up at him..

He got some pretty eyes tho....


*sippin*

Very cool.

[Birdman]

Great topic TP
I will pick Ray Allen..2 rings means alot