Grizzlies’ Tony Allen Saunters Through Kid’s Dance Routine — Says It ‘Took Me By Surprise’

Maybe he was just in the zone. Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen is in a spot of trouble, though, for a confused flub that disrupted a kid’s dance routine and angered Golden State Warriors fans.

During the first-half timeout of a playoff game – which the Grizzlies ultimately lost – the Warriors Jr. Jam Squad hit the court for a dance routine to entertain the crowd on Sunday, the Washington Post reported.

All was going well, until Tony Allen – dazed, sleepwalking, confused or focused, take your pick – casually sauntered straight through the middle of the dancers, Sporting News added. When he realized his faux-pas, Allen gave one of the dancers a high five.

Warriors’ Draymond Green was amused.

“I don’t think (Tony) realized he was walking through their dance routine. All of a sudden he realized it, and he tried to dap the little kids up, and the fans didn’t pay any attention. I was like, ‘C’mon, man.’ He looked up at the (scoreboard) and saw the camera on him. I don’t think he meant anything by it. It was hilarious. I just started laughing. I think he’ll hear some boos for the rest of his time at Oracle.”

Funny as it may have been, 20,000 Warriors’ fans weren’t laughing. Instead, they booed Allen not just as he cut through the dancing children – but for the rest of the game. Every time Tony had the ball, they booed, making their feelings abundantly clear, SF Gate added.

Interruption at its finest. Tony Allen walks right through a time-out performance by children and gets booed!
VIDEO: http://t.co/YQbTGcsXSP

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 3, 2015

But Allen wasn’t really surprised – after all, Grizzlies were on their turf, and the fans of the opponents “shouldn’t like any of us.”

True, but still – interrupting a bunch of talented children during their only time on the court was highly uncool. And plenty of people made that sentiment known on social media.

GIF: Warriors fan boos Tony Allen, gives him the thumbs-down pic.twitter.com/ypMbLTlQLT

— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) May 3, 2015

Tony Allen interrupting little kid dance squad has turned him into public enemy No. 1 at Oracle.

— Ann Killion (@annkillion) May 3, 2015

Warriors fans strongly boo Tony Allen for walking through kids dancing during a timeout doing a MC Hammer routine. Bay folks love Hammer.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 3, 2015

So how does Tony Allen explain away his odd behavior?

“I heard the first horn. When you hear the first horn, they want you to come out. Through all that, I still managed to shake one of the kid’s hands and let him know it’s a good performance. I was so focused on the play we drew up and what those guys are doing offensively, it took me by surprise.”

[Photo Courtesy Maddie Meyer/Getty Images]