Grizzles Owner Robert Pera and Tony Allen's 1-on-1 Set Saturday [PREVIEW/PREDICTION]
It’s set: the first ever one-on-one match-up between an NBA owner and an active NBA player to date. Or at least, the first to be aired live as billionaire Robert J. Pera takes on Tony Allen in a charity game this Saturday at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
It all started with a friendly Twitter challenge by the Memphis Grizzlies owner to the Grizzlies’ best defender:
Hey GrindFather @aa000G9 -- How about we play 1:1 in Memphis before training camp start? I'll spot you a couple baskets to make it a game!
— Robert J Pera (@RobertPera) September 9, 2013
@aa000G9 I'll personally donate a hundred stacks to your charity if you beat me — Robert J Pera (@RobertPera) September 9, 2013
Allen, who is considered as one of the best defensive players in the NBA today had a short and snappy answer:
Thats free money!! Boss
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) September 9, 2013
This is the easiest game to predict in the history of basketball, if not in the history of mankind. Take a look at the career highlights for both:
The 31-year-old Allen is a 2-time NBA All-Defensive Team Member (2012 and 2013) and a one-time champion with the Boston Celtics (2008).
And even without those awards, he is one of the toughest players in the NBA today and regularly assigned to guard the likes of LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and James Harden, among many other NBA superstars.
The 35-year-old Pera, meanwhile, holds a BA in Japanese Language, graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BS in Electrical Engineering and MS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He is the chairman/CEO of Ubiquiti Networks.
As of September 2013, Forbes ranked Pera's net worth at $1.95B and ranked him at #293 among the wealthiest people in the world.
The exhibition contest will provide $100,000 to St.Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event will be streamed live at grizzlies.com. Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph will be the guest referee.
The prediction: Pera beats Allen via a blowout. (The boss always wins. Always.)