From the Outside: My Journey Through Life and the Game I Love - Paperback

by Ray Allen (Author), Michael Arkush (Author), Spike Lee (Foreword by)

New York Times Bestseller

The record-holding two-time NBA champion and recently inducted hall-of-famer reflects on his work ethic, his on-the-court friendships and rivalries, the great teams he's played for, and what it takes to have a long and successful career in this thoughtful, in-depth memoir.

Playing in the NBA for eighteen years, Ray Allen won championships with the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat and entered the record books as the original king of the three-point shot. Known as one of the hardest-working and highest-achieving players in NBA history, this most dedicated competitor was legendary for his sharp shooting. From the Outside, complete with a foreword by Spike Lee, is his story in his words: a no-holds-barred look at his life and career, filled with behind-the-scenes stories and surprising revelations about the game he has always cherished.

Allen talks openly about his fellow players, coaches, owners, and friends, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett. He reveals how, as a kid growing up in a military family, he learned about responsibility and respect--the key to making those perfect free throws and critical three-point shots.

From the Outside is the portrait of a gifted athlete and a serious man with a strongly defined philosophy about the game and the right way it should be played--a philosophy that, at times, set him apart from colleagues and coaches, while inspiring so many others, and lead to the most pivotal shot of his career: the unforgettable 3-pointer in the final seconds of Game 6 of the 2013 NBA finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Throughout, Allen makes clear that success in basketball is as much about what happens off the court as on, that devotion and commitment are the true essence of the game--and of life itself.

What does it truly take to build a legacy in the world's most competitive league?

• A Legendary Work Ethic: Go inside the pre-game routines and relentless practice that made Allen one of the most dedicated competitors and sharpest shooters in NBA history.
• Unfiltered Stories on NBA Icons: Get Allen's candid perspective on playing with and against legends like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, and his complex relationship with Boston Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett.
• The Shot of a Lifetime: A thrilling, possession-by-possession breakdown of the most pivotal shot of his career--the unforgettable 3-pointer that saved the Miami Heat in the 2013 NBA Finals.
• Blueprint for a Long Career: Discover the philosophy on respect, responsibility, and professionalism that allowed him to thrive for eighteen seasons, from his rookie year to his Hall of Fame induction.
• From the Court to the Big Screen: Read the surprising story of how he landed the iconic role of Jesus Shuttlesworth, working alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's classic film, He Got Game.

Back Jacket

Ray Allen, the most prolific three-point shooter in history and a two-time NBA champion, has often felt outside the NBA's culture of lavish celebrity and embittered rivalries. Despite his dynamic success on the court, Ray's fierce work ethic, determination, and introspective attitude have set him apart from his peers. It is this mentality that has allowed him to achieve what few others can: pure focus amid the noise around him.

In From the Outside, Allen recalls his younger days as the son of an Air Force engineer; opens up about his fellow players, coaches, owners, and friends, including George Karl, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo, and Paul Pierce; and provides an insider's view to a career in the NBA.

This is the portrait of a gifted athlete and a complex man with a highly defined philosophy about the game and how it should be played. According to Allen, success in basketball is as much about what happens off the court as on, and that teamwork, loyalty, devotion, and commitment are the true essence of the game--and life itself.