Former NBA player Tony Allen was arrested in Arkansas on drug possession charges following a traffic stop. The 43-year-old, known for his defensive prowess with the Memphis Grizzlies, faces two counts related to marijuana and cocaine. Allen was booked into Poinsett County Jail on Wednesday afternoon.
Tony Allen, a 14-year NBA veteran celebrated for his defensive skills, was arrested in Poinsett County, Arkansas, according to online court records. The incident occurred during a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by William Hatton, 33, with Allen as the passenger. Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana, leading to a search of the vehicle. Police found marijuana on Allen and a cigarette box containing a white powdery substance identified as cocaine, per a police report. Hatton confessed to possessing drug paraphernalia with marijuana.
Allen faces one count of possession of less than two grams of a Schedule 1 or 2 drug and one count of possession of less than four ounces of a Schedule 4 drug. He was booked into the Poinsett County Jail just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Allen's NBA career began with the Boston Celtics, where he was selected No. 25 overall in the 2004 draft. He spent six seasons there, contributing to the 2008 championship. Allen joined the Memphis Grizzlies from 2010 to 2017, earning six All-Defensive team selections: first-team honors in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and second-team in 2011, 2016, and 2017. He finished his career with one season for the New Orleans Pelicans.
In March, the Grizzlies retired Allen's No. 9 jersey, honoring him alongside former teammates Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. This arrest adds to prior off-court issues; Allen pleaded guilty in August 2023 to a federal fraud case involving NBA health insurance.