Former NBA Player Tony Allen Arrested on Drug Charges in Arkansas

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Former NBA player Tony Allen was arrested on drug charges in Poinsett County, Arkansas, on Wednesday. The 43-year-old, known for his time with the Memphis Grizzlies, faces two charges of drug possession.

Authorities say a car driven by William Hatton, 33, was stopped on Interstate 555. The Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office reported that officers detected a strong smell of marijuana during the stop. A search of Allen found a substance identified as marijuana, while the car contained a cigarette box with cocaine.

Allen was booked into the Poinsett County Jail after the traffic stop. His charges include one count of possession of less than two grams of a Schedule 1 or 2 drug and one count of possession of less than four ounces of a Schedule 4 drug.

Drafted in 2004 by the Boston Celtics, Allen enjoyed a 14-year NBA career, playing for the Celtics and primarily for the Grizzlies from 2010 to 2017. He was part of the team’s “Core Four” and earned several accolades, including six All-Defensive team selections.

In March 2025, the Grizzlies retired his No. 9 jersey, honoring his significant contributions to the franchise. Allen was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Before his recent arrest, Allen had pleaded guilty in 2023 to charges related to health care fraud connected to NBA health benefits, resulting in community service and supervised probation.