Former Grizzlies guard Tony Allen arrested on drug charges

Former Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen was arrested on drug charges in Poinsett County, Arkansas on Wednesday, the AP reports via ESPN.

The charges allege that following a traffic stop about 50 miles outside of Memphis, Allen was found to have a package of a leafy substance later identified as marijuana on his person.

A subsequent search of the car, which was driven by a man named William Hatton, revealed marijuana-related paraphernalia, which Hatton claimed belonged to him, according to Action News 5, as well as a cigarette box with a substance later identified as cocaine.

Allen pleaded guilty to his involvement in a federal case of health insurance fraud in 2023 and received three years of supervised probation, in addition to community service.

Allen was a key leader of the "grit and grind" Grizzlies from 2010-11 to 2016-17 and had his jersey retired after spending seven seasons in Memphis, in which time he made six All-Defense teams and made the playoffs in all but one year.