Allen should once again get key power forward minutes

Miami HEAT President and Head Coach Pat Riley announced this afternoon that the team has re-signed free agent forward Malik Allen. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Allen, a 6'10", 255-pound forward, has averaged 8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.93 blocks and 26.9 minutes in 92 regular season games (75 starts) during his two-year NBA career. He has shot 42.4 percent (357-841) from the floor and 80.2 percent (105-131) from the foul line. Originally signed by the HEAT as an undrafted free agent on July 20, 2001, he has scored in double figures 45 times, grabbed double figures in rebounds on eight occasions and has recorded six double-doubles.

The 2000 Villanova graduate enjoyed the best year of his career last season. In 80 games (73 starts), he averaged 9.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, a team-high 0.98 blocks and 29.0 minutes while shooting 42.4 percent (335-790) from the floor and 80.2 percent (97-121) from the foul line. During the 2002-03 season he ranked 37th in the NBA in blocks per game and 41st in total blocks (78). In addition to leading the HEAT in blocks, Allen finished second on the team in field goal percentage and field goal attempts (790) and third in starts, minutes played (2,318), field goals made, defensive rebounds (291), total rebounds (425), double-figure scoring efforts, double-figure rebound efforts and double-doubles. He also ranked fourth on the team in offensive rebounds (134), 20-point games (four) and dunks (16).

Allen led the HEAT in scoring five times during the 2002-03 season, in rebounds on seven occasions, in blocks a team-high 35 times, in steals eight times and in minutes twice. He also made a career-high 24 consecutive free throw attempts from Mar. 7-30, one shy of the HEAT team-high for the 2002-03 season set by Eddie Jones.