Former NBA star Tony Allen — celebrated for his relentless defense and pivotal role with the Memphis Grizzlies — was arrested in Poinsett County, Arkansas, on drug possession charges, according to court records. The 43-year-old was booked into the county jail shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday and faces two counts: possession of less than two grams of a Schedule I or II controlled substance and possession of less than four ounces of a Schedule IV drug.<br /><br />Authorities say the arrest stemmed from a traffic stop involving a vehicle driven by 33-year-old William Hatton, with Allen riding as a passenger. Officers reportedly detected a strong odor of marijuana, prompting a search that turned up marijuana on Allen and a cigarette box containing a “white powdery substance” later identified as cocaine. Hatton allegedly admitted to having drug paraphernalia with traces of marijuana, according to Action News 5 in Memphis.<br /><br />Allen, a 14-year NBA veteran, was drafted 25th overall by the Boston Celtics in 2004, spending six seasons with the team and earning a championship ring in 2008. However, his legacy was cemented in Memphis, where he played from 2010 to 2017 and became synonymous with the team’s “Grit and Grind” era. A six-time All-Defensive Team selection — three first-team and three second-team honors — Allen retired after a final season with the New Orleans Pelicans.<br /><br />In March, the Grizzlies retired his No. 9 jersey alongside franchise legends Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. However, Allen’s post-career life has been turbulent; he previously pleaded guilty in August 2023 to a federal fraud case tied to the NBA’s health insurance program.<br /><br />#NBA #NationalBasketballAssociation #NBAVeteren #Basketball #TonyAllen #Passenger #WilliamHatton #PoinsettCounty #Arkansas #PoinsettCountyArkansas #TrafficStop #Arrest #Drugs #Narcotics #Marijuana #Cocaine #Possession #ControlledSubstance #DrugParaphernalia #CountyJail
