Jarrett Allen Joins Browns Fans in Muni Lot Before Cavaliers Season Opener

Jarrett Allen spent the last Sunday before the Cleveland Cavaliers' regular-season opener in the Muni Lot, playing beer die with Cleveland Browns fans before the Browns hosted the Baltimore Ravens.

Video of the Cavaliers center at the tailgate spread Sunday ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Huntington Bank Field. Bleacher Report described Allen tailgating and playing the game with fans, and Barstool Sports placed him in the Muni Lot.

At the team's media day Sept. 28 at Rocket Arena, Allen said part of Cleveland still doubts the Cavaliers. He also said the team is grateful for the support it gets in a city with several other pro teams.

Four days after the tailgate, Cleveland opens at the Philadelphia 76ers. Tip-off at Xfinity Mobile Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN, and the game doubles as Philadelphia's home opener.

LeBron James signed with the 76ers this summer for two years and $8 million. He spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers over two stints. Cleveland hosts James and Philadelphia for the first time Nov. 6.

Allen had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 17 minutes of the preseason opener Oct. 8, a 124-113 loss to the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena.

Three days later, he and Evan Mobley shared the team lead with 7 rebounds apiece in a 119-105 win over the Orlando Magic.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson started James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Mobley, and Allen in that game. Cleveland closed its three-game exhibition schedule in Orlando on Oct. 13.

This season is the first of the three-year, $90.72 million extension Allen signed Aug. 2, 2024. He is due $28 million in 2026-27. The deal pays $30.24 million in 2027-28 and $32.48 million in 2028-29, its final season.

Allen is entering his 10th NBA season and his sixth full season in Cleveland.

The Brooklyn Nets drafted him 22nd overall out of Texas in 2017.

In January 2021, the Cavaliers acquired him in the four-team trade that sent Harden from the Houston Rockets to Brooklyn.

At media day, Allen said he and Harden still have more to unlock in their pick-and-roll partnership after a limited sample together last season.

Allen made his lone All-Star team in 2022.

Last season, Allen averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 56 games while shooting 63.8% from the field. Over 18 playoff games, he averaged 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds.

He averaged 22.5 points and 13.0 rebounds across Cleveland's two Game 7s.

Cleveland went 52-30 and won seven-game series against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons. The New York Knicks then swept the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals and beat the San Antonio Spurs for the championship in June.

Bleacher Report ranked Allen No. 64 on its list of the top 99 players entering the season.

The Cavaliers return to Rocket Arena on Saturday to host Brooklyn in their home opener. The Minnesota Timberwolves visit Monday.