"A young Gilbert versus a prime Ray Allen? Watch out"- Gilbert Arenas compares his NBA career to Ray Allen's

Before Stephen Curry revolutionized the NBA with his deadly 3-point shooting, many fans believed that Ray Allen was the greatest sharpshooter the game has ever seen.

That said, Allen was more than just an elite marksman. While younger fans remember him as a key member of the Boston Celtics' Big Three from the late 2000s or as a perfect role player for the early 2010s Miami Heat teams, Allen was putting up superstar numbers early in his career.

However, not everyone believes his resume can be compared to the game's elite scoring guards.

Gilbert Arenas, who played against Allen his entire career, downplayed the latter's legacy when discussing the recent online debates about who the better player was between the two.

"That ain't no argument. He was only a top-15 player two times. I'm pretty sure I didn't remember him in any pictures of the All-NBA," Arenas said.

Who was the better player?

Arenas has one All-NBA Second Team and two All-NBA Third Team selections to his name, while Allen was only selected once in each of the All-NBA teams during his early years in the league.

Arenas doubled down on his comments and used Allen's last year as the team's star player in 2007 as his primary example of why he was better.

"His best year, he averaged 26, but he didn't make the All-NBA — I did. I did that year. He made the All-Star, though," Arenas said,

Allen had his best scoring year in the NBA during the 2006-07 season, averaging 26.4 points per game for the Seattle SuperSonics, earning an All-Star nod.

Meanwhile, Arenas finished eighth in MVP voting that season, securing his place on the All-Star team and on the All-NBA second team after averaging 28.4 points per game. His Washington Wizards also reached the playoffs, while Allen's Supersonics failed to reach the playoffs.

"You know the best thing about his best year? I got booed when I (only) scored 26," Arenas continued.

Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there for Arenas.

He tore his MCL near the end of the 2006-07 season and never appeared in an All-Star Game again. A gun incident in 2009 further derailed his once-promising career.

On the other hand, Allen joined Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Boston, immediately winning a chip in their first year together in 2008. While he assumed a lesser role with his new team, he was reshaping his game to become the most feared shooter in the league — and at one point became the NBA's career 3-point scoring leader — all the while garnering five All-Star selections.

Even during his later NBA years, he found himself part of one of the most dominant teams in the league with the Heat. He helped the Miami Big 3 get their final ring together with his iconic game-tying 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

Arenas says he never hit his prime

Despite making his case, Arenas eventually chose Allen in his prime over himself for one particular reason.

"I would say pick prime Ray Allen because I never hit my prime," said Arenas. "But a young Gilbert versus a prime Ray Allen? Watch out."

Playing a position dominated by the likes of Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, Allen built a solid career. His openness to adapting to a style that helped win championships adds to his overarching legacy, which also includes being touted as a franchise cornerstone at his peak.

Related: "You of all people, Ja, should know 'cause he sent you home" - Austin Rivers advises Ja Morant to know his place after trash-talking a bona fide legend

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.