IN 2008, Walter Ray Allen started for the Boston Celtics and helped lead the Hub City squad to their first National Basketball Association title in 22 years.
Last summer, Allen left Boston and moved over to South Beach to hook up with Miami’s Big Three (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) on a three-year, free-agent deal that is worth less than what he would have earned had he re-signed with the Celtics.
The 6-foot-5 three-point specialist wanted a second NBA championship badly. That’s why he took less money to join the Heat. He did not even mind if Miami coach Erik Spoelstra had already penciled him in a reserve role.
The move paid off handsomely as the Heat finished with the best record in the NBA during the 2012-13 wars at 66-16.
And his goal of securing a second ring came to complete fruition last week when
Miami successfully retained its title with an epic 4-3 decision over the tough San Antonio Spurs. Allen, who turns 38 on July 20, thus became the 33rd player in NBA history to capture an NBA championship with different franchises.
For the record, the other members of the exclusive list of multiple-franchise title winners are: Arnie Risen (1951 Rochester Royals/1957 Boston Celtics), Slater Martin (1950-52-53-54 Minneapolis Lakers/1958 St. Louis Hawks), Frank (Pep) Saul (1951 Rochester Royals/1952-53-54 Minneapolis), Jack Coleman (1951 Rochester Royals/1958 St. Louis Hawks), Walter (Buddy) Davis (1956 Philadelphia Warriors/1958 St. Louis Hawks), Clyde Lovellette (1954 Minneapolis Lakers/1963-64 Boston Celtics), Wilt Chamberlain (1967 Philadelphia 76ers/1972 Los Angeles Lakers), Bobby Dandridge (1971 Milwaukee Bucks/1978 Washington Bullets), Charlie Johnson (1975 Golden State Warriors/1978 Washington Bullets), Paul Silas (1974-76 Boston Celtics/1979 Seattle SuperSonics), Wally Walker (1977 Portland Trail Blazers/1979 Seattle SuperSonics), and Jamaal Wilkes (1975 Golden State Warriors/1980-82-85 LA Lakers); Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971 Milwaukee Bucks/1980-82-85-87-88 LA Lakers), Mitch Kupchak (1978 Washington Bullets/1985 LA Lakers), Dennis Johnson (1979 Seattle SuperSonics/1984-86 Boston Celtics), Bill Walton (1977 Portland Trail Blazers/1986 Boston Celtics), Gerald Henderson (1981-84 Boston Celtics/1990 Detroit Pistons), and Earl Cureton (1983 Philadelphia 76ers/1994 Houston Rockets); Dennis Rodman (1989-90 Detroit Pistons/1996-97-98 Chicago Bulls), John Salley (1989-90 Detroit Pistons/1996 Chicago Bulls/2000 LA Lakers), and James Edwards (1989-90 Detroit Pistons/1996 Chicago Bulls); Robert Parish (1981-84-86 Boston Celtics/1997 Chicago Bulls), Mario Elie (1994-95 Houston Rockets/1999 San Antonio Spurs), Will Perdue (1991-92-93 Chicago Bulls/1999 San Antonio Spurs), Ron Harper (1996-97-98 Chicago Bulls/2000-01 LA Lakers), Steve Kerr (1996-97-98 Chicago Bulls/1999-2003 San Antonio Spurs), Robert Horry (1994-95 Houston Rockets, 2000-01-02 LA Lakers/2005-07 San Antonio Spurs), Horace Grant (1991-92-93 Chicago Bulls/2001 LA Lakers), Lindsey Hunter (2002 LA Lakers/2004 Detroit Pistons), Shaquille O’Neal (2000-01-02 LA Lakers/2006 Miami Heat), Sam Cassell (1994-95 Houston Rockers/2008 Boston Celtics), and James Posey (2006 Miami Heat/2008 Boston Celtics). Only two men in NBA history won NBA titles with three different franchises – Horry and Salley.
Horry, Harper and Rodman are the only players ever to capture back-to-back league championships with two different franchises.
Kerr is one of only 11 men ever to win four straight titles. He is also one of only two players – the other being Saul – to earn an NBA ring in consecutive seasons with different ballclubs.