- Tony Allen says Paul Pierce paid him $1,000 for every dunk when they first met.
- The offer came at Summer League after Pierce returned from a casino win; Allen says he completed five dunks.
- The anecdote was shared during a conversation with Zach Randolph and Paul Pierce; a clip is available on YouTube.
H2: Allen recalls a wild Summer League moment
Tony Allen recounted a memorable first meeting with Paul Pierce where Pierce reportedly handed him $1,000 for every dunk. The story, told during a conversation with Zach Randolph and Pierce, centers on a Summer League session before Allen had an NBA paycheck.
Allen says Pierce walked into the gym fresh off a casino run and, looking for excitement, offered cash for dunks. “He had just won at the tables,” Allen said. “He walked in with the bankroll like, ‘Yeah, I just won at the tables. I need some excitement. I got $1,000. I heard dunk?’ I said, ‘What? A thousand?’ And you know, November ain’t hit yet. It’s Summer League. I don’t have an NBA dollar. That man said a thousand? I had five dunks in a row. No cap.”
H3: What the clip shows
The full exchange is available in a longer interview clip that includes input from Zach Randolph and Paul Pierce. Randolph jokes about Allen’s athleticism and the back-and-forth banter, while Pierce recalls winning roughly $50,000 at the tables before offering cash to spice up the Summer League session.
Embedded video: YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O0jnE4vWSA&t=4459s
H3: Why the story stuck
The anecdote highlights the informal atmosphere of Summer League, where young players and veterans mix, and where memorable moments — including friendly wagers and impromptu competitions — can shape early impressions. For Allen, then an unsigned player trying to make a name, the $1,000-per-dunk offer was both a confidence boost and a funny origin story he still tells.
H3: Voices in the room
Paul Pierce’s willingness to hand out cash after a big win at the casino adds a celebrity flourish to the moment. Zach Randolph’s reactions in the clip provide context and humor, turning a simple Summer League session into a story that’s now being replayed by fans and media.
H2: Bottom line
Tony Allen’s recollection is a colorful footnote in NBA lore — a snapshot of how casual bets and personality can create lasting memories. Whether taken as a literal contract or a spontaneous show of support, the moment captures the playful competitiveness that lives alongside the serious business of professional basketball.
Watch the original exchange on YouTube for the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O0jnE4vWSA&t=4459s
Image Referance: https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2025/12/14/tony-allen-paul-pierce-paid-me-1000-per-dunk-when-we-first-met/87761872007/
