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Ray Allen Got In Major Legal Trouble For Taking Part In Kevin Garnett’s Jersey Retirement Ceremony
Ray Allen joined the Boston Celtics in 2007 in hopes of creating something special, and he didn’t disappoint as they managed to clinch a title in 2008 against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, a crucial decision in Allen’s career sparked the end of an era for the Celtics and their ‘Big 3’ of Garnett, Pierce and Allen.
Come summer of 2012, Ray Allen, who was bothered by previous trade rumors and contract dispute in Boston, made a decision to join their Eastern Conference rival Miami Heat, who at that time, were obviously the team to beat and the biggest roadblock to his former Celtics team.
Allen’s decision didn’t sit well with his Boston teammates, particularly Kevin Garnett. Garnett, Pierce and Rondo have been feuding with Allen ever since he left, but recently, ten years later, things finally changed for the better.
During the All-Star weekend in Cleveland already, where both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, alongside their former teammate Paul Pierce, were honored as members of the NBA’s 75 team, Garnett and Allen were seen talking to each other for the first time since Allen left for Miami.
Then, during Kevin Garnett’s Boston Celtics jersey retirement ceremony, Allen was one of the guest and the two shared a hug that ended in a group hug.
But this reunion now caused some major trouble for Allen.
The Hall of Famer was selected as one of 14 members of a jury in a deadly carjacking case in Miami with its trial being scheduled for March 14 – the day after Garnett’s jersey retirement ceremony in Boston.
This is why Allen reportedly requested U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke push back the trial to March 15, which she did. But then, Allen did not show up for the trial.
After various attempts to contact Allen, the judge issued Allen an order to show cause and proceeded with the trial.
“Mr. Allen’s actions in failing to appear for jury duty are both baffling and disconcerting,” Cooke wrote in her show-cause order.
“Through his actions in failing to appear for jury duty, Mr. Allen appears to not appreciate or understand the importance of jury service. The right to a trial by jury is sacrosanct,” Cooke wrote. “However, the right to trial by jury can only be preserved if those who are chosen to serve on a jury actually fulfill their obligation to serve.”
Allen’s attorney William McCue issued an apology on his behalf and claimed that it all was a complete misunderstanding. Judge Cooke though, scolded Allen for disrespecting the court and ordered him to pay $1,000 to a charity of his choice.
