For the entirety of his career on the Memphis Grizzlies, Tony Allen has been known as one of the faces of the ‘Grit and Grind’ saying. Headlined by Allen, the Grizz have been known for their gritty style of play on both ends and their never give up attitude that’s synonymous with the city of Memphis.
Thus, the saying ‘Grit and Grind’ was made and it has stuck with the Grizz thanks to players like Allen, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and more. However, Allen has his own detailed answer to how exactly the saying got started and it may turn some heads.
Following from Tom Westerholm of MassLive.
“To make a long story short, we win,” Allen said. “Y’all can YouTube this too, in case you think it’s fabricated. I was so upset with Rudy for not playing … I end up having 27 points, eight rebonds and like five steals. Mind you, I hadn’t played in 22-some-odd games, and this is to let you know how in shape I was. Durant had like 35, but they lost. When they gave me my interview, the first thing I said was, ‘It’s just all heart. Grit and grind.’ That’s how that phrase blossomed in Memphis. I was still upset. That was really a jab at Rudy Gay. But he’s my man today, I’ve forgiven him for that. But yeah, that’s where it started at in Memphis.”
Word got around to Rudy Gay, Allen’s former teammate in Memphis, who has responded to Allen’s claim and seems to have not taken too kindly to it.
Pot calling the kettle black pic.twitter.com/7Sw1kMJzL3
— Rudy Gay (@RudyGay) August 5, 2017
