UPDATE: Grayson Allen has been indefinitely suspended by Duke.
You can't say it's an unfair comparison.
Or undeserved.
Grayson Allen has become college basketball's version of Draymond Green. That analogy took official status Wednesday night. Allen, like Green, is one of the most best and most valuable players in his sport. Yet he keeps killing his reputation by repeatedly -- whether intentionally or unintentionally; consciously or subconsciously -- putting opponents in harm's way with his legs.
The latest came in the first half of Duke's 72-61 win over Elon. Duke had its issues early on, though, and so that frustration bubbled over with Allen going trying to pull off a move that's half Gene Kelly, half Karate Kid.
Allen tripped another guy. Stuck his leg out again. This one looks as egregious as any of his prior violations. That's Elon's Steven Santa Ana who gets hooked.
Grayson Allen out here kicking people Draymond Green style. pic.twitter.com/Qtbp6Slk6v
— Kyle Boone (@kylebooneCBS) December 21, 2016
Allen was assessed a technical foul and sat out the remainder of the first half.
After the technical came, Allen knew he did wrong. He lost it on the bench. This isn't a good look either, but if he's blowing off steam and unleashing some primal disappointment in himself, it's understandable.
Grayson Allen pretty upset about getting the technical foul on that last play pic.twitter.com/qHTyCxaAgN
— Kyle Boone (@kylebooneCBS) December 21, 2016
Allen has become a trouble to himself in some respects. It's astonishing that this happened, really. The foul is so blatantly obvious (watch the play again; it looks instinctual, like Allen can't help himself), it's a shock to see him do this. He knows how he's perceived, yet this keeps happening.
In the offseason Allen was open and honest to multiple outlets who wrote soft-focus feature stories on his redemption and his troubles with tripping in the past. But actions are going to speak 1,500 megawatts louder than words. Nothing Allen says can overcome the videos you see above.
Should/will Allen be suspended? Well, if Krzyzewski thinks that's something that should happen, he'll obviously come to that conclusion with more time to consider what happened. And he'll need to look at the tape. Because Allen did come back into the game in the second half -- and promptly drew a blocking foul within his first 15 seconds on the floor.
In the moment, Krzyzewski didn't think the violation was bad enough to warrant sitting his player even five full game minutes.
If Krzyzewski doesn't suspend, the ACC could consider it. Duke's next game is its first in ACC play: at Virginia Tech on Dec. 31.
This is where we are with Allen, though. His reputation has been solidified. It's just a shame, and entirely his fault, that Grayson Allen's name is tied more to cheap stuff like this than the fact he's one of college basketball's great players.