National Basketball Association

Grizzlies owner challenges Tony Allen

Published Sep. 9, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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Sam Gardner

Robert Pera has a lot going for him these days.

At 35, he is one of the youngest billionaires in the world, he’s buddies with Justin Timberlake and, just last October, he and a group of investors dropped a reported $350 million to buy the Memphis Grizzlies. (Pera’s investment was reportedly $45 million for a controlling 26 percent stake in the team.)

That being said, I can’t help but think that Pera was overstating his basketball skills Monday when he sent these tweets to Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen:

Pera is said to be 6 feet 3, and he supposedly has skills. During his introductory news conference with the Grizzlies, Pera said he can dunk, and he trains with former San Jose State player Terry Cannon.

“He can really jump,” Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien told Businessweek. “He can make shots. He’s technically very proficient.”

That sentiment was echoed by Cannon, who told the Memphis Commercial Appeal: "His strength is probably his shot. He has great touch. He has pretty good footwork."

But hype aside, Allen, 6-4, doesn’t seem too worried, and probably rightfully so. After all, he is an NBA player:

Far be it from me to say that Pera shouldn’t take Allen on, though. As a guy who feels good about himself when he donates a Hefty bag of old T-shirts to Goodwill, I think any excuse to give $100,000 to charity is a good one.

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