In the fourth game of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, Jarrett Allen shattered his ribs. His injuries would cause him to miss the next eight games during the playoff run, and it continued to be a source of controversy.
Supporters and even teammates questioned Allen’s moral character. Inexplicable language (what exactly is a “pierced” rib?) and Allen’s constant listing as “questionable” as opposed to “out” encouraged further conjecture in the months that followed. However, Allen ultimately resolved the score on Media Day.
According to Allen, “I think that definitely contributed to the skepticism of the injury.” “You never know how bad rib injuries are until you get them; the CT scan shows that there is still a piece of bone floating inside my body, so it was definitely a worse injury than people thought.”
In the final seconds of the 1994 playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and the Seattle Supersonics, there were only two possibilities: a miracle or a miracle. Either the Nuggets would pull off a spectacular upset, or the Sonics would pull off a remarkable, late-game comeback.
During his recovery, Allen talked about how hard it was for him to sleep and even to lift his arms above his head. Regardless of what other people thought, he was simply unable to participate at playoff intensity due to his injury, as much as it grieved him to be out of the game.
The center for the Cavaliers has frequently been the subject of internet abuse. His prior playoff performance left him vulnerable to criticism. In 2023–24, Allen responded to that by having his best regular season to date. He said to reporters on Media Day that he handled the criticism in the same way this summer.