Jarrett Allen: From Texas Longhorn to NBA Standout
Jarrett Allen, currently a celebrated center for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has carved a notable path from his college days to becoming an NBA All-Star. His journey, marked by a growth mindset and a unique approach to life, reflects not only his basketball prowess but also his multifaceted personality.
Early Life and High School Career
Born in San Diego, Allen's journey began in Round Rock, Texas, where he attended Walsh Middle School before moving to St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin for his final three years of high school. This boarding school provided him with independence and prepared him for the rigors of college-level work. At St. Stephen's, his basketball coach, LaMont King, fostered a close-knit community, creating an environment where Allen thrived. King emphasized the importance of having fun, a mantra Allen embraced, leading to his jersey retirement at the school. Allen was named a McDonald’s All-American.
College Career at the University of Texas
Allen's growth mindset was instilled by his parents, Cheryl and Leonard, at a young age. His brother, Leonard, who is three years older than him, also played a critical role. As a freshman at the University of Texas, Allen started all 33 games, averaging 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. While the team struggled, finishing 11-22, Allen's individual performance hinted at his potential. His best game was a 22-point, 19-rebound performance in a 12-point loss to Kansas.
During his time at Texas, then-Longhorns head coach Shaka Smart held regular meetings with the freshmen, focusing on personal growth. Allen learned how to take care of his mind off the court. Smart would share stories of athletes like Tom Brady and Usain Bolt, illustrating how they achieved greatness in all aspects of their lives. Smart recognized Allen's eagerness to learn and his ability to quickly implement new skills.
Decision to Enter the NBA Draft
It wasn't until the Big 12 Conference Tournament that Allen knew he had the potential to be an NBA player. After his freshman season, Allen decided to test the draft waters in 2017.
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NBA Career
Brooklyn Nets (2017-2021)
Allen was selected 22nd overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA draft. He quickly impressed teammates with his performance. He showed his mettle during crunch time. Allen took big strides into Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup. As a rookie Jarrett Allen had a career-high 16 as Nets edge Magic. Allen is becoming Nets' center of attention.
Trade to Cleveland Cavaliers (2021)
In January 2021, Allen was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a four-team deal that sent James Harden to the Nets. Allen was in the final year of his contract and eligible for a new contract that offseason. His success in Cleveland, and the immediate chemistry on the court with Darius Garland, further cemented his long-term fit with the Cavs. In the first 44 games that tandem was on the court together following the trade, the Cavs had a defensive rating of 105.3, and an offensive rating of 111.9.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-Present)
After he was traded to Cleveland in 2021, he continued that tradition. While many players around the league don’t always stay in their markets in the offseason, Allen liked the familiarity of Cleveland and worked out at Cleveland Clinic Courts during the summer of 2021 while awaiting a potential contract extension with the Cavs. During that summer, Allen relied on Lang to take his game to new heights. After Allen took an allotted amount of time off, Lang was back in Cleveland working with Allen on July 1.
Allen's offensive game has taken a leap during his tenure in Cleveland. It’s not by accident. That was the Cavs’ collective objective for Allen during the 2021 offseason. Bickerstaff noted Allen’s ability to finish, how he caught the ball in the middle of the floor in pick-and-roll, and how he had great balance and footwork. If a player has good balance and footwork, then there is a potential to be a strong post player.
Last season, Allen did just that. He dominated on both ends of the floor protecting the rim and being an offensive threat. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, and represented the Cavs during All-Star weekend. Despite Allen missing 17 games post-All-Star break due to finger injury, he ended the season averaging a double-double of 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
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He picked up where he left off in the early days of the 2022-23 season. Through the first 10 games, Allen is averaging 13.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. He continues to play an integral part of Cleveland’s early success with his rim protection and presence in the paint. Allen is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate every single year.
Allen started all the 56 games he played, Allen finished the 2021-22 season averaging a number of career best with 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 blocks, and .8 steals per game, while shooting .677, .100, and .708 from the field, the three-point line, and on free throws, respectively, on 32.3 minutes per game. On July 31, 2024, Allen and the Cavaliers agreed to a three-year, $91 million max contract extension. He started all 82 games for Cleveland during the 2024-25 NBA season, posting averages of 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. In October 2025, Allen suffered a left ring finger injury during the game against the Boston Celtics. Allen scores career-high 40 points as the Cavaliers beat the Trail Blazers 130-111.
Personal Life
Allen’s infectious smile and cool swagger have made the 6-foot-11 All-Star a Cavaliers fan favorite. He has quickly established himself as one of the NBA’s best defensive bigs, and the Cavaliers rewarded him with a five-year, $100 million contract in August 2021.
When Allen’s not on the court, he’s a plant dad of sorts, caring for Monsteras to Parlor Palms, Money Trees, Swedish Ivy and Tulips. Allen is dexterous in the kitchen as well, an interest he developed when he was younger. He experiments with different types of bread. He’ll often bake English muffins and Jewish breads like challah and babka from scratch. But nothing is off limits in his kitchen. Cavaliers assistant coach Antonio Lang, who works with bigs like Allen, Robin Lopez and Evan Mobley, said the 24-year-old isn’t afraid to get into DIY projects at home, too.
From traveling - he went to Australia and New Zealand this summer as a coach for Basketball Without Borders - to his love of learning, Allen embraces the appreciation for the small things in life.
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Allen’s love for exploring even molded his introduction to basketball. Jarrett, who was in middle school at the time, was hanging around one of Leonard’s basketball practices at Round Rock High, outside of Austin, Texes, when he found another gym and decided to check it out. There was a younger basketball team practicing, and the players invited Allen to join them.
Allen takes off his warmup jacket, balls it up and slides the jacket toward the baseline as the starting five take the floor. He runs off the court to fist-bump security guards, ball boys and PR personnel. He heads back toward the court and goes down the line of the coaching staff and his teammates, fist-bumping or hugging everyone along the way. When he gets to the scorer’s table, Allen turns and looks towards the top of the arena, where Cavs bilingual play-by-play announcer Rafa El Alcalde sits, and waves. They call it their space salute. Allen then heads to the circle at the center of the court for tipoff. It’s a pregame ritual he began in Brooklyn with the Nets, wanting to get everyone involved before tipoff.
Allen genuinely likes Cleveland. He likes the coaches, he likes playing here, playing for the team. So it really wasn’t that hard of a decision to come back here and work out.
Allen's father Leonard was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1985 NBA draft and played at San Diego State and in Spain. His older brother Leonard Jr. In July 2025, Allen married his longtime partner, Jordyn January in Austin, TX.
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