Ever since the Boston Celtics raised Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett’s jerseys to the rafters, fans have been wondering whether Ray Allen will be next. After all, Allen was a co‑star of Boston’s Big 3 that brought its 17th championship banner 16 years ago. The man known as “Jesus Shuttlesworth” helped shape a golden era in Beantown. Celtics fans expect No. 20 to join the 23 retired numbers that define Boston lore. Yet some restrictions cast doubt on Allen’s destiny.

When Allen popped up at Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals, the very game the Celtics clinched the title. it didn’t take long for someone to ask about it. Ray didn’t dodge the moment. Instead, he gracefully tossed the ball back to the franchise, saying, “Anytime you get a number or your number retired, it’s a great respect, specifically in this building. You know that it’s all based on what the organization feels and how they move. Like I said, there’s so many stories and numbers that were retired in those rafters. I’m just grateful that I played here, and so anything after that is a blessing.”

But here’s where it gets interesting. While Boston might give him that rafter love, a $3.7 billion franchise, the Oklahoma City Thunder definitely won’t. When Dan Patrick asked if his OKC jersey could be retired based on what he did for the Seattle SuperSonics, Ray kept it real.

“Technically, I think it could be,” he said, before adding, “but I think for tradition speaking, you know, typically you raise a banner or jersey in a place that is [a] kind of familiar to that city and nobody in Oklahoma City really had ever watched me play in that city. So I don’t think, and it’s an ownership mandate as well. So I don’t think that would ever happen.”

To make it more complicated, even Seattle isn’t a sure bet. When asked about his jersey being honored in the Emerald City, Allen said, “Yeah, in Key Arena. It would, I would say, possibly, but it’s Key Arena. I don’t think I don’t even know what they use it for anymore.”

Despite the uncertainty, Allen’s numbers with the Sonics speak for themselves. He played five seasons in Seattle, averaging 24.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 296 games. Even better? He was an All-Star in all four full seasons he played there. So can OKC—or Seattle, for that matter—honor him properly? Only time will tell.

Ray Allen hopes to get his #20 honored by the Celtics

Back in 2022, when Kevin Garnett had his number retired at TD Garden, Ray Allen stood right there beside him. The moment wasn’t just about KG—it also marked the end of a long-standing rift between Boston’s original Big Three. Paul Pierce joined the celebration too, and just like that, the tension from the past seemed to melt away. Not long after, Allen opened up on the Cedric Maxwell Podcast, telling Max what it would mean to him if No. 20 joined the Celtics’ historic banner list.

“When you come into that building, those jerseys are part of Celtics lore, Celtics tradition, Celtic Nation,” he explained. “And to be able to say that my number that I wore would be up there at some point in my life, it’s one of the greatest honors in this game that I could ever receive.”

Stats-wise, the man’s résumé in Boston speaks volumes. He was an All-Star three times in five seasons, shot 41% from three, and sits No. 6 all-time for the Celtics in both threes made (798) and three-point percentage (.409%). Oh, and he still holds the franchise’s top spot in free-throw rate at .914%. Let’s not forget when he broke Reggie Miller’s all-time three-point record in a Celtics jersey—unreal.

And during that five-year run, he averaged 16.7 points a night, helped Boston reach two Finals, and was part of three conference final appearances. Not to mention, he earned a spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. So the real question is—has he done enough to get that jersey honor in Boston? What do you think?