“He’s Like a Crazy Person”: Tony Allen & Co Thrilled as Cam Spencer Gives Kevin Durant a Taste of His Own Medicine

One’s a rookie for the Memphis Grizzlies, Cam Spencer. The other? A two-time NBA champ and gold medalist none other than Kevin Durant. Sounds like a crazy comparison, right? I mean, put them in a one-on-one matchup, and we all know how that ends. But when it comes to energy, intensity, and straight-up putting fear in opponents, it’s not as easy to call. And after their recent showdown, things got a little heated in the NBA world. Now, NBA champ Tony Allen has jumped into the conversation, and trust me, his take is worth hearing.

Spencer, a rookie, lit up the court Monday night when he drilled a clutch corner three over Kevin Durant with just 1.4 seconds left in the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns. But it wasn’t just the shot that had fans talking, it was what came next. As Durant turned to walk away, Spencer followed, exchanging words with the two-time NBA champ. Things quickly escalated, leading to a heated face-off between Durant and Memphis guard Desmond Bane. The result? Double technicals. And now, after watching the footage, NBA champ Tony Allen has weighed in on the drama.

In the latest episode of GrindCityMedia, Tony Allen and his co-hosts broke down the heated exchange between Spencer and Durant. And out of nowhere, a co-host dropped a bold take on Spencer: “Everyone across the board has said, he is like a crazy person… a psycho”  Allen, though, saw things differently. He understands and knows pretty well that a little bit of “crazy” is exactly what it takes to make a name in the NBA. As Tony said, “That’s the energy you need bro, we were looking for some crazy” 

On-court battles are nothing new in the NBA. They happened yesterday, and they’ll happen tomorrow, it’s just a part of the game. Every player fights for their team, but that doesn’t mean every little feud has to spill beyond the hardwood. Spencer made that clear after the game, shutting down any idea of lingering bad blood. “When you’re in competition, you don’t really concern yourself with who is on the opposing side,” he said.  “I have a lot of respect for KD and his accomplishments, but my focus is squarely on the team and winning. That’s what matters most to me.”

At the end of the day, it’s all about the game. Passion, competition, and doing whatever it takes to win. And if moments like these add a little extra fire to the court, well, that’s just the NBA for you, ain’t it?

Tony Allen was shocked when he suddenly had to guard Kevin Durant

Tony Allen was never the type to back down. He’d throw himself at loose balls, lock up the best scorers in the league, and run his mouth just enough to get under his opponent’s skin. But even for a defensive specialist like him, some matchups came as a surprise. Flashback to the 2010-11 season, Memphis was set to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Allen had been studying game tape, preparing himself to take on James Harden. Meanwhile, Rudy Gay was expected to guard Kevin Durant. Everything seemed set in stone, or so Allen thought.

While speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Allen shared a funny yet unexpected moment from that game. “I had some minutes against Kevin Durant… I didn’t study for him, I was doing film on James Harden,” he admitted, making it clear he had focused his prep entirely on Harden. But just before tip-off, the game plan flipped on its head. “Then I look up, it’s 38 on the clock and they like wiping off the board and putting Tony name next to Kevin Durant name,” Tony recalled. Without warning, he was suddenly assigned to guard one of the most lethal scorers in the league.

Despite the last-minute switch, Tony held his own. He even joked about how frustrating the situation was, saying, “I had a solid game, like 27 rebounds… I was hot though… I was still hot at Rudy I’m like, Mother… he played me.” Even without preparation, Tony still found a way to compete, a true testament to the kind of relentless defender he was.