Grayson Allen has somehow ended up in the crosshairs of both broadcast commentary and NBA fans this week — and not always for the right reasons.
During the Suns’ matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, Allen briefly appeared on camera, prompting a Nets announcer to quip:
“I can’t look at him and not think of Ted Cruz.”
The comparison to the U.S. senator had fans cracking up.
“I’d rather be called a retard at that point,” joked @bdhdhshshsbsbs.
id rather be called a retard at that point
— _ (@bdhdhshshsbsbs) January 20, 2026
“Holy s**t… he’s right,” added @BeLikeDime.
Not everyone found the joke funny.
“Knicks and Nets announcers are trash. First Book, now this?” wrote @GGMU05.
Allen shrugged off the jokes and contributed on the court, finishing with 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists as Phoenix pulled away for a 126–117 win over Brooklyn. Dillon Brooks led all scorers with 27 points.
“Did Mike Breen give a patented ‘BANG’?” NBA fans crack jokes on Grayson Allen’s clash with OG Anunoby
A couple of nights earlier, Allen made headlines for a less flattering reason during Phoenix’s 106–99 win over the New York Knicks.
Two minutes into the final quarter, Allen collided with OG Anunoby after teammate Oso Ighodaro tripped Anunoby during a play. The impact left Allen in pain, and he was immediately subbed out for Royce O’Neale to receive medical attention.
Mike Breen couldn’t resist commenting on the broadcast:
“Look at his nose. That looks like a broken nose.”
Even with a potentially serious injury, fans found a way to joke.
“Did Mike Breen give a patented ‘BANG’ for the Grayson Allen nose collision?” asked @JackDentsTweets.
“Some guys like Grayson play defense with their faces and always break their nose,” added @RCtweeted.
Others shifted blame toward Anunoby.
“OG a dirty player and yall don’t talk about it enough,” said @HammyRip31590.
Allen finished the night with 16 points and 3 assists in 27 minutes — proving that even with jokes flying and a bumped-up nose, he’s still doing his part on the court.
