Duke basketball: Grayson Allen under scrutiny again after scuffle with foe

Duke basketball guard Grayson Allen (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports)
Duke basketball guard Grayson Allen (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports)

Duke basketball standout Grayson Allen was in another on-court scuffle.

Grayson Allen was tangled with another player, received a technical foul, and the Duke basketball National Champ was in the headlines once again.

On Saturday night, Allen and the Memphis Grizzles hosted Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks in a preseason matchup, and the two college stars have a bit of a history together.

In the 2018 NBA Summer League, Allen, who was a member of the Utah Jazz at the time, and Young got tangled, with the former Blue Devil on defense and former Oklahoma Sooner on offense.

Both received technical fouls in that scuffle, where it appeared like Young was the instigator following the two getting their arms caught before Allen jabbed back at the point guard.

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Nothing since has occurred between the two players until their meeting on Saturday in Memphis.

The roles were reversed in their most recent scuffle, with Young getting into Allen on the defensive end as the Dukie tried to drive to the basket.

Following Trae Young’s initial foul on Grayson Allen, both players certainly locked arms as Young then shoved Allen to the hardwood as teammates stepped in and prevented anything from escalating.

Perhaps Young was just letting some frustration out following his 4-for-12 performance on Saturday night, missing all five of his 3-point attempts. Allen was in the starting lineup and did not miss a shot, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-4 shooting, making all three of his shots from beyond the arc and both his free throw attempts as the Hawks prevailed, 117-116.

Duke basketball standout comes under fire

Given his troubles at Duke, anytime Grayson Allen is involved in a mishap, scuffle, or argument, no one is going to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially when pinned against one of the beloved future stars of the NBA.

Regardless of his intent or involvement in the scuffle, Allen will always be pinned as the villain for the duration of his career, something that JJ Redick was able to shake once he departed Durham for the NBA.

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Grayson Allen averaged 8.7 points per game in his first year with the Grizzlies as he was sidelined in January because of a hip injury but returned for the NBA’s resumed season in Orlando, Florida this summer.

Allen posted six straight games in double-figures prior to Memphis’ exit from the bubble.

The Memphis Grizzlies will begin the 2020-21 regular season on Wednesday, December 23 against the San Antonio Spurs (8:00pm EST).