Jarrett Allen Bio
Jarrett Allen (born April 21, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 243 pounds, he plays the center position and is widely respected for his efficiency around the rim, shot-blocking ability, and rebounding. After one season of college basketball at the University of Texas, he was selected 22nd overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA draft and has since developed into one of the league’s most reliable big men.
Now in his eighth NBA season, Allen has earned a reputation as a defensive anchor and lob threat. He was named to his first NBA All-Star Game in February 2022 and currently holds the highest offensive rating in NBA history among players with at least 15,000 minutes played.
Early Life and Background
Jarrett Allen was born on April 21, 1998, in San Diego, California. He spent part of his childhood in Texas, where he attended Walsh Middle School in Round Rock before beginning his freshman year at Round Rock High School. Looking for a stronger basketball environment, he transferred to St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin for his final three years of high school. During his time at St. Stephen’s, he won two Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) championships, signaling his rapid development as a frontline prospect.
Basketball runs in Allen’s family. His father, Leonard Allen, was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1985 NBA draft and later played at San Diego State and in Spain. His older brother, Leonard Jr., committed to play college basketball at Baylor University before taking a leave of absence in 2017. Growing up around the game gave Jarrett an early understanding of professional habits and the work required to compete at the highest level.
Path to Professional Basketball
As a high school senior, Allen was selected for the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, one of the most prestigious honors for a U.S. high school basketball player. He was rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 15 overall player in the Class of 2016. These accolades led to widespread recruiting interest, and Allen ultimately committed to the University of Texas at Austin to play college basketball for the Texas Longhorns.
As a freshman at Texas, Allen averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, including a standout 22-point, 19-rebound performance against Kansas. Despite a difficult team season in which the Longhorns finished 11–22, Allen showed enough individual talent to enter the 2017 NBA draft. He decided to forgo his remaining three years of collegiate eligibility and was selected 22nd overall by the Brooklyn Nets.
Jarrett Allen Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Allen signed his rookie-scale contract with the Brooklyn Nets on July 20, 2017, and made his NBA debut on October 20 at 19 years and 182 days old, becoming the second-youngest player ever to appear in a game for the franchise. He finished his debut with nine points on 3-for-3 shooting, two rebounds, and one block. Inserted into the starting lineup in January 2018, he responded with a 16-point, 12-rebound performance against the Philadelphia 76ers and continued to set new career highs throughout his rookie year.
During his second NBA season, Allen showed further growth as a rim protector and rebounder. On November 17, 2018, he recorded a career-high 24 points and 11 rebounds against the Los Angeles Clippers, and in January 2019 he posted 20 points and a career-high 24 rebounds in an overtime win over the Houston Rockets. These performances established him as a building block for the rebuilding Nets.
Brooklyn Nets Breakthrough (2017–2021)
Allen’s time in Brooklyn steadily elevated his profile. He provided consistent interior defense, efficient finishing at the rim, and a growing presence on the offensive glass. The Nets relied on his size and shot-blocking to stabilize a young roster, and by his third season he was a fixture in the starting lineup.
His run with the Nets came to an end on January 14, 2021, when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a four-team deal that sent James Harden to Brooklyn. The trade marked the close of Allen’s developmental chapter in New York and the beginning of a new role as a centerpiece for a rebuilding team in Cleveland.
Cleveland Cavaliers Era (2021–Present)
Allen quickly became a foundational piece for the Cavaliers. On October 20, 2021, he became the first player since the introduction of the shot clock in 1954–55 to make 10 or more field goals without a miss in a season opener. His defensive presence and rebounding helped transform Cleveland’s frontcourt, and he was selected as a replacement for Team LeBron in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, earning his first All-Star honor.
In the 2021–22 season, Allen started all 56 games he played and averaged career highs of 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. Paired with rookie Evan Mobley, he helped lift Cleveland from a sub-.300 winning percentage to above .500 and from one of the league’s worst defenses to a top-five unit. On July 31, 2024, Allen and the Cavaliers agreed to a three-year, $91 million contract extension, cementing his long-term role with the franchise. He started all 82 games in 2024–25, averaging 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
Notable Events and Milestones
Allen owns the highest offensive rating in NBA history among players with at least 15,000 minutes played, a testament to his consistent efficiency. In January 2024, he set a Cavaliers franchise record for consecutive double-doubles, surpassing marks held by Andre Drummond and Elmore Smith. He also set a playoff career high with 20 rebounds in a 2024 first-round win over the Orlando Magic. In October 2025, Allen suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left ring finger’s distal phalanx during a game against the Boston Celtics.
Jarrett Allen Career Wins and Honors
Jarrett Allen’s career has been marked by individual recognition and team improvement at every stop. He earned third-team All-Big 12 honors in 2017, was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2016, and was selected to the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. His work as a defensive anchor has helped reshape the Cavaliers into a playoff contender.
NBA Honors and Achievements
Allen’s 2022 All-Star selection is the centerpiece of his NBA résumé. He has also been a steady shot-blocker and rebounder, posting multiple seasons of double-digit rebounds and finishing near the league lead in field-goal percentage.
Jarrett Allen Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball is deeply rooted in Jarrett Allen’s family. His father, Leonard Allen, was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 1985 and went on to play at San Diego State and professionally in Spain. His older brother, Leonard Jr., committed to play at Baylor University before stepping away from the program in 2017. The family’s basketball pedigree helped shape Jarrett’s path to the NBA.
Personal Life
In July 2025, Allen married his longtime partner, Jordyn January, in Austin, Texas. The couple had been engaged since 2023. Allen continues to make his offseason home in the Austin area, near where he completed his high school and college years.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 NBA season began with Jarrett Allen entrenched as the Cavaliers’ starting center on the heels of a three-year, $91 million contract extension. He started all 82 games in 2024–25 and entered the new campaign as a central piece of Cleveland’s defense and a primary finisher in the pick-and-roll. His continued efficiency and rebounding remained central to the team’s identity.
Allen’s season was interrupted in October 2025, when he suffered a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx in his left ring finger during a game against the Boston Celtics. The injury forced him to miss time but was not expected to be long term, with the Cavaliers outlining a recovery plan aimed at returning him to the lineup without surgical intervention.
Looking ahead, Allen is expected to resume his role as a defensive anchor and high-efficiency scorer in the post once healthy. With a contract that runs through 2027, he remains a long-term cornerstone of the Cavaliers’ roster and a player whose offensive rating and rebounding consistency continue to set him apart among NBA centers.