Grayson Allen: Should His Jersey Be Retired?

TL;DR

The debate over whether Grayson Allen's jersey should be retired at Duke is ongoing. His significant contributions to the 2015 national championship raise questions, despite controversies during his career.

Key points

Grayson Allen had a significant impact on Duke's 2015 national championship.
Mike Krzyzewski praised Allen's play as one of the greatest in Duke history.
Allen's career included notable controversies that may affect jersey retirement discussions.

Mentioned in this story

Mike Krzyzewski

Grayson AllenTyus JonesNCAA Men's Final Four ChampionshipDuke Blue Devils

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Tyus Jones #5 helps up Grayson Allen #3 of the Duke Blue Devils against the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke won 68-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) | Getty Images Over at the Duke Chronicle, Ben Curtis makes an interesting argument: should Grayson Allen have his jersey retired? It’s a great question. Allen, as Curtis points out, had an outstanding career at Duke. He was as responsible as anyone for Duke’s 2015 national championship win over Wisconsin. Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called his diving play against the Badgers the greatest play in Duke Basketball history. That’s saying a lot. Consider Christian Laettner’s two buzzer beaters over UConn and Kentucky. Consider Shane Battier’s epic block against Arizona’s Jason Gardner in 2001, or Nate James’s tip-in against Maryland in the same years. That’s a huge compliment. Curtis also touches on the tripping controversies that Allen brought on himself. It was a bizarre chapter in a brilliant career. What we remember about that was when Coach K was asked about it and he said, quite carefully we thought that “I’m responsible for that kid.” The exact words might be off, but it’s essentially correct, and we’ve always wondered what exactly he meant by that. We also remember on the second kicking occasion, seeing Allen go to the bench and being very concerned about his reaction. There’s a lot we don’t know about it and there’s a good chance we’ll never know, but at that moment, he didn’t seem like he was fully in control of himself. But that’s from a very great distance, so take it for what it’s worth. Is that disqualifying? It might have been when Allen graduated in 2018, but today? Probably not. It’s a really interesting question. What do you think? * to find Blue Healer Auctions* || **

Q&A

What were Grayson Allen's key achievements at Duke University?

Grayson Allen played a crucial role in Duke's 2015 national championship win and is remembered for his impactful plays, including a notable diving effort against Wisconsin.

What controversies surrounded Grayson Allen during his college career?

Allen faced multiple tripping incidents that sparked significant media attention and discussions about his behavior on the court.

Who was the head coach of Duke during Grayson Allen's tenure?

Mike Krzyzewski was the head coach of Duke University during Grayson Allen's college career.