With the creation of Grit N’ Grind, Tony Allen birthed an identity that transcended basketball, breathing oxygen into a city searching for air.

Longtime NBA guard Tony Allen had his No. 9 jersey retired by the Grizzlies on Saturday night in Memphis. A defensive stalwart, the 2004 first-round pick earned the nickname "the Grindfather" for his tenacious play throughout his 15-year NBA career.

On and off the court, Allen turned being an NBA player into a kind of lunatic performance art, and in Memphis, he found a deeply appreciative audience.”