NBA
JA
#31

Jarrett Allen

Center · Cleveland Cavaliers · 6'9", 243 lb · Born Apr 21, 1998 · San Diego, California · Drafted 22nd overall, 2017
All-Star (2022)Cleveland CavaliersElite finisherRim-running C
NBACleveland CavaliersCenters
Compare:vs Schrodervs Mitchellvs Mobleyvs Hardenvs Tysonvs Strus
In short

Jarrett Allen is an efficient rim-running center for the Cleveland Cavaliers and a 2022 NBA All-Star. Drafted 22nd in 2017 out of Texas, he became one of the league's best finishers and rebounders — often leading the NBA in field-goal percentage — after arriving in Cleveland in the 2021 James Harden trade. He forms an elite interior duo with Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley.

Matchup model · next gameLow confidenceThu, Nov 12
@Chicago BullsAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
15.8
range 13.1–18.5
Line 15.5
54%
to go over
Team win
44%
112–113
Poi 15.8 Lean overReb 8.5 Lean overAss 1.8 Lean underPRA 26.2 Lean over
Likely on himMatas Buzelis· 47 Rim protectionExploitable
15+ pts61%20+ pts8%

Model lines Allen at 15.8 pts (range 13.1–18.5) vs a 15.5 line — a lean to clear it (54%).

Biggest edge: primary defender — exploitable on the ball.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Allen
The Allen Story — narrated
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An efficient, lob-catching rim-runner — half of one of the NBA's best interior duos.

Son of a pro player, Allen starred one year at Texas and was drafted 22nd by Brooklyn in 2017.

🤘 Texas · 22nd, 2017NBA bloodline

He broke out in Brooklyn, then was traded to Cleveland in the 2021 James Harden deal.

Traded to CLE, 2021Harden trade

He made the 2022 All-Star team and became one of the league's most efficient finishers and rebounders.

⭐ 2022 All-StarTop-5 FG%

Paired with Evan Mobley, he anchors an elite defensive frontcourt.

15.4 / 8.5 · .638Mobley duo
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
15.4
2025-26
RPG
8.5
per game
APG
1.8
per game
FG%
.638
LIFE

Roots & the rise

An elite, efficient rim-runner and rebounder — half of Cleveland's dominant interior duo.

Jarrett Allen was born in San Diego and raised in Austin, Texas, the son of former professional player Leonard Allen. A one-and-done at Texas, he was drafted 22nd in 2017 by Brooklyn, where he emerged as a shot-blocking, lob-catching center before being traded to Cleveland in the 2021 James Harden deal.

In Cleveland he became a 2022 All-Star and one of the league's most efficient bigs — a relentless offensive rebounder and lob finisher who regularly ranks near the top of the NBA in field-goal percentage. Paired with Evan Mobley, he anchors one of the best defensive frontcourts in basketball.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Allen is one of the NBA's noted tech and robotics enthusiasts — a cerebral, understated big man who has spoken about coding and building, once known for a distinctive afro before changing his look. The son of a pro player, he grew up in Austin steeped in the game, and built his career on efficiency and effort rather than flash.

His identity is doing the unglamorous work at an elite level: rolling to the rim, finishing everything, crashing the offensive glass, and protecting the paint alongside Mobley. On a Cleveland team with two lead scorers, his low-usage, high-efficiency interior play is the connective tissue that makes the frontcourt work.

PERSONALITY

The person

An efficient, low-maintenance rim-runner and rebounder — elite finishing and interior effort.

Elite finisherRegularly among the NBA leaders in field-goal percentage as a lob threat.
RebounderA strong offensive and defensive rebounder anchoring the glass.
Interior defenderA rim protector who pairs with Mobley for an elite frontcourt.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Rim-Runner · Rebounder
Temperament
Steady
Leadership
58/100
Scoring66
Playmaking40
Rebounding86
Perimeter D50
Rim protection84
Spacing35
Athleticism70
Clutch65
an efficient rim-running rebounder
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Efficiency as identity

Allen's value is elite, low-usage efficiency: he finishes lobs and putbacks at one of the highest field-goal percentages in the league, rebounds on both ends, and protects the rim. On a team with Mitchell and Harden creating, he doesn't need touches — his job is to convert the easy ones and anchor the paint, and he does both at an All-Star level.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-265627.115.48.51.8.638

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

2022NBA All-Star with Cleveland
EfficiencyRegularly among the NBA leaders in field-goal percentage
2021Acquired by Cleveland in the James Harden trade

Hardware

1×
NBA All-Star (2022)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

An efficient rim-running anchor — half of Cleveland's elite frontcourt.

On a long-term deal, Allen gives the Cavaliers elite finishing, rebounding, and rim protection at low usage. Alongside Mobley, he forms one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league — the interior foundation of a contender.

Rim finishingElite
ReboundingStrong
Rim protectionStrong
Floor spacingNone

Contract

Role
Starting C finisher
Pairing
w/ Mobley elite D
Age
28 prime
Bottom line

An efficient, do-the-dirty-work rim-runner and All-Star. Half of Cleveland's elite frontcourt — the finisher and anchor every contender wants.

FAQ

Quick answers

How did Jarrett Allen join the Cavaliers?

Cleveland acquired him from Brooklyn in the January 2021 James Harden trade; he made the All-Star team the next year.

What is Jarrett Allen known for?

Elite efficiency — he finishes lobs and putbacks at one of the highest field-goal percentages in the NBA and anchors the paint with Evan Mobley.

Where did Jarrett Allen go to college?

Texas, for one season, before being drafted 22nd overall in 2017.