Superstar shooter stilL making plenty of 3 s By CRAIG DOLCH It was a putt so long, Ray Allen almost had to use a full shoulder turn when he struck the ball. The 70-footer made its way toward the hole, taking the slope and somehow disappeared into the cup. “Ray Allen from downtown!” a fan screamed at the recent Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions near Orlando. It seemed fitting for Allen to make a putt from long range. After all, the Miami resident is the NBA’s career record holder for 3-pointers made (2,973), 3-point attempts (7,429), 3-pointers made in the playoffs (385) and 3-pointers made in a half of the NBA Finals (seven). Allen’s shooting skills enabled him to play 18 seasons in the NBA, averaging 16.1 points a game and winning titles with the Boston Celtics (2008) and the Miami Heat (2013). With Miami, he hit a clutch 3-pointer to tie Game 6 with 5.2 seconds left and the Heat went on to beat San Antonio in seven games. Allen attended the University of Connecticut and was chosen Big East Player of the Year (1995-96) and was drafted fifth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He also played for Seattle and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. Allen could do more than play basket-ball. He received critical acclaim for his acting abilities while playing basketball prodigy Jesus Shuttlesworth in Spike Lee’s 1998 movie He’s Got Game . Allen stepped away from the game in 2014, then considered returning two years later but ultimately stayed retired. He spends a lot of time playing golf in celebrity tournaments and with his former NBA buddies. (Allen showed 26 MARCH 2020 The Tee Times Q&A RAY ALLEN “I PLAYED MICHAEL (JORDAN)’S COURSE THE OTHER DAY. I PLAYED PINE TREE (IN BOYNTON BEACH) A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND I ENJOYED THAT. IT’S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE THERE’S NOT THAT MANY GREAT COURSES IN MIAMI.” RAY ALLEN WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COURSE IN SOUTH FLORIDA? I played Michael (Jordan)’s course the other day. I played Pine Tree (in Boynton Beach) a couple weeks ago and I enjoyed that. It’s hard to say because there’s not that many great courses in Miami. up at the Diamond Resort with a new golf bag from Michael Jordan’s Grove XXIII course in Hobe Sound). Tee Times columnist Craig Dolch caught up with Allen to talk about his golf game: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COURSE? Whistling Straits. Each shot you play you feel like you’re in the hole and every shot counts. The hazards and waste bunkers on the Lake Michigan side catch everything. You really have to pay attention to every shot you hit because there is a consequence if you don’t hit a good shot. WHAT IS YOUR HANDICAP? I’m between a 0 and a 1. WHAT’S YOUR LOWEST ROUND AND WHAT COURSE? I shot a 63 at Concord Country Club in Boston. I should have shot a 61 because I three-putted twice. I’m a great putter on fast greens. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLUB IN YOUR BAG? 3-iron. I stand over it and I feel with my arc it gives me power. With a 3-iron, I know I have to swing it. I don’t baby it. (continued on page 28)