Jarrett Allen jumped into the league with high expectations but did not shine like the other rookies in his class. This is the year that Allen will prove why he belongs in Brooklyn.
Jarrett Allen, the 6-foot-10 center from the University of Texas entered the NBA a little under the radar. He had a decent season with UT, scoring 13.4 points and snagging 8.4 rebounds per game (per 100 possessions, Allen scores 24.3 and collects 15.3 rebounds). His performance throughout the season garnered national attention, and though he was not as tenacious as some of the players taken before him in the draft, he was exactly what the Brooklyn Nets needed at pick number 22.
Now, with a year under his belt, Jarrett Allen will take the most of all his opportunities this year (and Brooklyn needs him to). With the only other center on the roster being Kenneth Faried, the Nets need Allen to stay on top of his development to keep progressing into the beast he is supposed to be.
Analysts love to say “this guy has the tools to be a great basketball player one day,” but Allen truly does have all the tools to be a great basketball player. He’s 6-foot-9, 6’10” on a good day, which is a touch short for a center, but he makes up for it with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, a 9-foot-1 standing – yes standing – reach, and gigantic hands to pair with his massive frame. He is a force to be reckoned with.
The only problem? When Allen first entered the league he had a difficult time setting solid screens and being physical down low.
But last year, Allen kept improving on his weak points and showed the coaching staff he is the perfect fit for pick and rolls. Just look at this simple give and go with Caris LeVert.