When Tony Allen turned in a strong performance for the Celtics, he would often go home and watch the end of the game on replay with a specific question in mind: Did he get the “Tommy Award” that night?
“The more Tommy Heinsohn awards you get, it pretty much validates you,” Allen said Wednesday on the “Chris Vernon Show.”
Heinsohn, who died earlier this week at age 86, distributed the award to the player who showed the most hustle, grit, and determination throughout a given game. Allen said he tried to play hard enough each night to know that he was going to get the award.