Gilbert Arenas blog

Gilbert debuts tonight, Nats going after Webb?

2010-11-05T19:07:00.000+01:00

The Wizards return to the road tonight as they take on the Knicks in asbestos-free Madison Square Garden. Michael Lee of The Washington Post is with the team and he is reporting that Gilbert Arenas will make his long-awaited return to the NBA regular season tonight. Arenas hasn't participated in any kind of game action since going three minutes in the October 14 preseason game against Milwaukee. He has been recovering from a strained right ankle tendon.

Mike Rizzo spoke at the end of last season about acquiring a front-line starter. Now, Adam Kilgore of the Post is reporting that the Nationals will take a run at acquiring Brandon Webb. Webb won the Cy Young Award with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, and came in second in both 2007 and 2008, but has not pitched the big leagues since 2009.

And point guard Quinn Cook, a native of Hyattsville, formerly of DeMatha, and currently of Oak Hill Academy, has chosen to play his college ball at Duke.

Gilbert Arenas trade rumors: Gilbo says he is not seeking an early exit

2010-10-08T10:52:00.000+02:00

After the Wizards concluded practice at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Gilbert Arenas grabbed a seat on a portable water cooler and put an ice pack on his left knee. He then called me over because he wanted to clarify his post-game comments after the Wizards' 97-94 win against Dallas in the preseason opener, lest there be any confusion about what he said or even intended to say.

Arenas created a bit of stir after John Wall's thrilling preseason debut when he said that his new role with the Wizards is to "teach John the ins and outs of the game, and eventually go on and move on." When asked what he meant when he said, "move on," Arenas replied, "This is the NBA. There's few players that stay in the same city, so right now the city is John's. I'm not here to fight anybody. I'm here to play alongside of him. He's Batman, I'm Robin. When I came in, Larry [Hughes] moved aside for me to become a star and I'm moving aside for him to become a star."

To some, Arenas's comments appeared to be a message that he was looking to be moved before his contract expires after the 2013-14 season. Arenas said he isn't looking to go anywhere, or seeking a trade; he is content serving as a mentor to Wall and the other young Wizards as one of the few veterans on the roster. He said he simply meant that he would move on when his deal ends, not before it.

"I've got four years left," Arenas said, "and that's it. That's all I was saying."

At the end of his current contract, Arenas will be 32 and the rest of the Wizards' young players -- such as Wall, JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche and possibly Yi Jianlian, if he re-signs next summer -- will be entering their respective primes. He said it's only natural for teams to move on and bring in younger players, but he enjoys being around this group.

Arenas said was merely stating the obvious: It is Wall's team now. He's a veteran role player around to show him the ropes and help him become a star. "I had my time," Arenas said.

He said he's at a point in his career that whenever he opens his mouth and leaves his words open to interpretation, people will always look for the negative spin. He said it's one of the reasons that he stopped blogging and making himself so accessible to the media.

I can concur with what ESPN.com's Marc Stein wrote today that the Wizards don't have any trades in the works, regarding Arenas. He has three years and $60 million left on his deal after this season, which would make him difficult to move anyway -- especially since Arenas has only played 47 games the past three seasons because of injuries and his 50-game suspension.

But he reiterated that he enjoys being around Wall and respects his game. Arenas said he feels a connection with Wall since the No. 1 overall pick is represented by Dan Fegan, Arenas's first agent in the NBA. He is perplexed by the opinions of those who believe that he and Wall won't work together.

"I haven't seen a situation where you have two good guards and it doesn't work out," Arenas said. "When you have good players, it works out."

He noted how he and Wall complement each other, since Arenas is a shooter who can help driving lanes open up for Wall, while Wall is a driver who can create open shots for him. After the win over Dallas, Arenas said he warned Wall about hitting the floor as much as he did, because of the toll it will eventually take on his body.

Wall said on Tuesday that he and Arenas have developed a good report. The two have been spotted regularly cracking jokes with each other.

Arenas said that even though he's nearly nine years older than Wall -- Arenas turns 29 in January -- he still believes that he can beat him in a foot race. Wall has yet to accept the challenge, but I told Arenas I thought the 20-year-old Wall would get him. Then I asked Arenas who had the quickest time in Coach Flip Saunders's conditioning drill. Arenas smiled -- yes, he smiled -- and tapped his finger on his chest.

He added that he wishes that more people focused more on how he and Wall will work, rather than the other way around. He blamed the overall negative tone of the new, 24-hour "social media" for contributing to people expecting situations to fail. He used the overwhelmingly negative perceptions surrounding the newly-formed all-star trio in Miami with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Arenas said he hopes that kind of talk will stop in Washington.

"We need people to root for us," Arenas said. "Don't go against us. Root for us!"

Arenas sits out Wizards' campending scrimmage

2010-10-04T17:18:00.001+02:00

Arenas sits out Wizards' camp-ending scrimmage Eds: APNewsNow.

Washington(AP) Gilbert Arenas was on the sidelines again Sunday as the Washington Wizards wrapped up training camp with a scrimmage.

Arenas missed three of the final four sessions of camp. He sat out Friday morning's practice with a sore leg, was able to take part in the team's scrimmage later that night, then was out Saturday and Sunday with a sprained right ankle.

Arenas is attempting a comeback after knee injuries and a 50-game suspension for a felony gun conviction limited him to 47 games over the past three seasons.

The Wizards open their preseason Tuesday at Dallas.

Shaquille O'Neal Accused of Affair with Laura Govan, Gilbert Arenas' Fiancee

2010-02-03T08:08:00.000+01:00

If there were awards for NBA gossip, Gilbert Arenas and Shaquille O'Neal would be unanimous first-team selections - and that's before their lives intertwined.

Now that Shaq is accused of an affair with Laura Govan, Arenas' fiancee?

Wow. O'Neal has been rumored to have slept with another player's significant other for weeks, but this report is the first we've read with a name attached.

The fact that it's Gilbert Arenas' fiancee is nothing short of amazing. Rumor has it Shaq and Laura Govan became involved at some point in the past year.

An email allegedly from Govan said she'd meet with Shaq "as long as u taste me and make me cum LOL." Um, LOL is right ... or WTF.

Gilbert Arenas and Laura Govan have had a turbulent relationship, complete with subpoenas, child custody battles, various breakups and a couple of kids.

Still, they've managed to make it work ... at least until now. If she really slept with Shaq, who is also accused of an affair with Vanessa Lopez, who knows.

Shaq's wife, Shaunie, seeks legal separation from the big fella, who may have been sleeping with Dominica Westling too. Who does he think he is, Tiger?

Arenas is suspended indefinitely by the NBA after pleading guilty to a felony gun charge. That charge stemmed from a locker room standoff in December.

Arenas' Wizards and Shaq's Cavaliers hadn't played since back on November 18, so it's unlikely Gil was packing heat with the intention of whacking Shaq.

adidas Terminates Gilbert Arenas’ Contract

2010-01-17T10:44:00.001+01:00

Looks like it’s the Hibachi who’s getting chopped into pieces these days. In light of Gilbert Arenas’ guilty plea of the felony gun charges against him, adidas has dropped Arenas from their formidable line of NBA endorsees, which includes Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, T-Mac, and many other notable players. Arenas was considered one of the top endorsees for adidas; he was an emerging star, and his whimsical persona grabbed a considerable amount of attention, both in the sport and in pop-culture, and was thusly granted his own line of signature shoes that included the adidas Zero-G and adidas Gil II Zero. The termination of the adidas contract follows NBA commissioner David Stern’s suspension of Arenas from the league, and at this point, Arenas’ future both as a professional athlete and market icon appears to be in severe jeopardy. Read adidas’ official statement and refresh your memory of some Arenas collaborations after the jump. via USA Today.

Official adidas statement:

“In response to Gilbert Arenas’ guilty plea to felony charges, Adidas has terminated its agreement with the athlete effective immediately…beyond this statement we have no further comment at this time.” – adidas spokesperson Stephanie Von Allmen

T'Wolves Top Wizards For Second Straight Win

2009-12-28T12:50:00.000+01:00

Corey Brewer stepped up with a career-high 27 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 101-89 defeat of the Washington Wizards at the Target Center.Kevin Love had 17 points and 10 rebounds while Al Jefferson ended with 11 points, five boards and five assists for Minnesota, which won back-to-back games for the first time this season. Ramon Sessions chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Damien Wilkins secured a game-high 13 rebounds to pair with nine points. Gilbert Arenas totaled 26 points, nine assists and seven boards for the Wizards, who had won two straight and three of the previous four games. Antawn Jamison dropped 20 points, Randy Foye 16 and Caron Butler 13 in the loss. "They (had) six wins for a reason. Unfortunately they beat us. It's not like we have that many wins over them. They're one of the worst teams in the West. Now we're one of the worst teams in the East," said a frustrated Arenas. The Timberwolves held a slim 23-22 edge at the close of the opening quarter. Washington moved in front, 38-33, on back-to-back jumpers from Arenas and Foye with 5 1/2 minutes to play in the second. Minnesota, though, scored the next eight points led by a pair of baskets from Jefferson to help reclaim a one-point 43-42 lead at the break. The hosts opened up the second half with a 9-2 burst to run the margin to eight but it was a tie game just as quick following a Wizards run keyed by three straight buckets from Arenas. Jamison then sank a jumper for a 54-52 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left. An ensuing 7-0 stretch for the T'Wolves signaled a back-and-forth game for the rest of the frame with the hosts eventually emerging with a 68-67 advantage heading to the fourth. Nearly 3 1/2 minutes into the fourth, Minnesota was still holding a one-point lead following an authoritative dunk by Ryan Hollins. That sparked a 10-0 surge with Sessions' bucket approaching the midway point good for a 79-71 game. Arenas broke up the stretch with a pair of free throws before the T'Wolves widened the gap to 10 with 5:11 to play. Six straight points from Brewer moments later kept the lead at double digits prior to Foye hitting a pair of threes on consecutive Washington possessions to make it a 91-83 deficit with 2:16 to go. Another Brewer bucket with 1:09 remaining pushed the lead back to 10 and Minnesota made 8-of-10 at the line down the stretch to seal the win. "We felt like we shut them down in the fourth and Corey stepped up and we just had an all-around good game," said Love. Game Notes Minnesota captured its first win in the series since February 25, 2007. Washington had won four straight and six of the last seven matchups...The Wizards moved to 5-11 away from the Verizon Center this season and 1-1 on a three-game road trip that wraps up in Memphis on Monday...The Wolves are 4-12 at home this season and next visit San Antonio Tuesday.

Arenas trying to have fun again

2009-11-17T16:50:00.000+01:00

He tried serious. Surly even.

He declared Agent Zero dead and retired the Hibachi. Once the most media-accessible star in the NBA, Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas aimed to be so focused on basketball that he had to be forced by the NBA - in the form of a $25,000 fine - to speak to the media. Although Arenas claimed otherwise, the fun appeared to be gone, and on the court he mostly sported a scowl.

But the new persona didn't translate into on-court success. Aside from the season-opening 29-point, nine-assist performance in a victory over Dallas and a 32-point, seven-assist game in a win over New Jersey, Arenas largely has been disappointing.

In six losses heading into Saturday night's game against the Detroit Pistons, Arenas averaged 21.8 points but owned a .383 shooting clip while turning the ball over 5.3 times a game.

Arenas did away with his angry self Saturday night, proclaiming before the matchup with Detroit that he was going back to having fun and that Agent Zero and the Hibachi would return.

But aside from a buzzer-beating 33-foot 3-pointer at halftime, the Agent Zero heroics remained missing in action. Arenas recorded 19 points and 10 assists against the Pistons but made only one of three shots in a fourth quarter in which Washington blew a six-point lead and lost.

The defeat dropped Arenas' Wizards to 2-7, the new offense he is charged with directing remains stagnant and the guard is caught in an identity crisis while trying to re-establish himself and learn a new system.

"In [former coach Eddie Jordan's] system, he just told me attack, attack, attack 24-7," Arenas said. "In this system, I have the ball so much, if I attack, attack, attack, you know, I'll sit around and score 60; I'd just be ball-hogging. ...

"I was a reactor. Now I find myself being a thinker. Just like the Miami game, I'm sitting there concentrating on getting assists - averaging eight assists, averaging nine assists because I want to be labeled a 'point guard.' "

That self analysis explains a lot. Some nights (like the 93-89 loss to Miami last week), Arenas is a willing assailant, taking 27 shots (he made only nine). The next game he seemed passive, taking only 10 shots. Afterward, Arenas said he felt obligated to set up his teammates rather than try to score since he had shot so much the game before.

Another negative during the start has been the injury to Arenas' go-to guy, power forward Antawn Jamison, and an apparent disconnect with fellow All-Star Caron Butler, whom Arenas has seemed to ignore in key situations. Butler, who has been miffed by his lack of relevance down the stretch of games, said on Arenas' progress: "I don't know. You have to ask him."

Arenas said he is trying to figure out how to include multiple offensive threats at the same time.

Saunders believes Arenas just needs time.

"I just think it's a combination of he's trying to find out when things go bad when he should take over and not take over, and that's part of the situation," Saunders said. "Everyone just has to be patient. I have to be patient. We have to understand this is someone who hasn't played [fully healthy in two years] really or put in a lot of games."

The other key factor has been the tremendous pressure Arenas has put on himself.

"You see the players out there - Chris Paul - averaging 20 and 10, and you know they consider him the best point guard. So you put that in your mind like, 'Man, in this system I can average 20 and 10. Let me go average 20 and 10.' And then I catch myself trying to force it... and I'm sitting like, [crap], I can't do that."

Arenas might need to figure things out quickly, or the Wizards will find themselves having to dig out of an even larger hole rather than taking strides toward contending with the league's elite.

LeBron, Shaq Lead Cavs Over Wizards

2009-11-06T08:38:00.001+01:00

LeBron James scored 27 points, Shaquille O'Neal added a season-high 21 while wearing out Washington's big men and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their third straight, beating the Wizards 102-90 on Tuesday night.

The Cavs trailed by 18 in the second quarter before turning up their defense and relying on their superstar combo of James and O'Neal to win their sixth straight at home over the Wizards.

Mo Williams scored 15 and Daniel Gibson 14 for the Cavs, who made nine 3-pointers in the second half -- four in the fourth quarter when James was out. Williams and Gibson were a combined 7-for-9 on 3s.

Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas scored 22 apiece to lead the Wizards.

Cavs hope to stay on track vs. Wizards

2009-11-04T16:47:00.000+01:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers hope the ship has been righted after a disappointing start to the season, as they resume a three-game homestand tonight versus the Washington Wizards at Quicken Loans Arena.

Favored to represent the East in the NBA Finals this year, the Cavs dropped their first two contests of the 2009-10 campaign before rebounding with consecutive triumphs, including Saturday's 90-79 victory versus the Charlotte Bobcats in the opener of the homestand. Mo Williams knocked down 5-of-8 shots from three-point range and collected 24 points to lead the Cavs, who welcomed the return of guard Delonte West.

West had been dealing with personal and legal issues from the summer, and posted 13 points in his 2009-10 debut. Superstar LeBron James added 14 points, seven rebounds and nine assists for Cleveland.

"He sits out for two weeks and he's right back in the flow," said James. "He's that type of guy. It wasn't a surprise he was able to come out tonight and still be in the comfort zone."

The Cavs are 1-1 at home and will also host the Chicago Bulls. Last season, they won their first 23 home games on the way to a 39-2 mark at Quicken Loans Arena. The team also won the Central Division title before losing in six games to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Washington has won two of its first three games of the season and notched a 123-104 triumph Saturday versus the New Jersey Nets at the Verizon Center.

Gilbert Arenas finished with 32 points and seven assists, while Andray Blatche recorded a career-high 30 points off the bench for the Wizards, who split a pair of road contests to begin the 2009-10 campaign. Randy Foye added 17 points and eight assists in a winning cause.

"He's worked hard in the offseason," Wizards new head coach Flip Saunders said of Blatche. "He's worked hard as far as even during the season here, so he's reaping the rewards of his hard work."

Wizards forward Caron Butler is probable for Tuesday's game with a bruised left knee. Butler did not play in the win over New Jersey.

Washington and Cleveland split a four-game season series a year ago, with each team winning on its home floor. The Wizards have lost five in a row and six of their last seven as the visitor in this series.

Gilbo update

2009-06-20T12:33:00.001+02:00

I never got the chance to run into Gilbert Arenas at the NBA Finals, but Washington Times reporter Mike Jones stumbled into him in the hallway during Game 4. Arenas told Jones that he plans on spending this summer working out with the famed trainer Tim Grover, who worked with Michael Jordan and helped Dwyane Wade resurrect his career last season and finish third in MVP voting behind LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

Although I didn't get Arenas, I did talk for a while with Grover. He told me that he expects Arenas to come to his Attacks Athletics facility in Chicago in about two weeks. Arenas has committed to coming and Grover said while he hasn't seen Arenas's medical records, he estimated that it will take at least a two month commitment for Arenas to get the necessary training required. He added that several stars overcoming left knee injuries, including Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal, are expected to be in Chicago this summer.

The Wizards support Arenas's decision to train elsewhere and will likely send someone up to Chicago to keep an eye on him, which is similar to what the Heat did with Wade last season. With Arenas already back to his playing weight from five years ago, maybe Grover can help him return to that all-star, all-NBA form again. And, given how Wade bounced back to the form that made him Finals MVP in 2006, this might be the best move for Arenas, who hasn't had much luck with his rehabilitation since injuring his left knee in April 2007.

Gilbert running, no timetable for return

2009-02-28T20:28:00.001+01:00

Gilbert Arenas has been practicing full-speed with the Washington Wizards for more than a week as he works his way back from his latest knee surgery.

The extent of Arenas' participation had been kept under wraps, but he spilled the beans Tuesday when he told The Washington Post: "I'm out there feeling like the old Gilbert Arenas again."

"I'm running, jumping, dunking, feeling good. No pain, no swelling," Arenas said, according to a posting on the newspaper's Web site. "My balance is back, my speed is back. The only thing I have to get used to again is being around other bodies out there on the court. I'm working on getting timing back. The only thing I'm not doing is playing in games."

Team spokesman Scott Hall confirmed that Arenas began practicing with the team last week, when the Wizards (13-43) reconvened following the All-Star break, and has gradually increased his workload since then.

Interim coach Ed Tapscott said Monday that Arenas had started to do "some shooting and some running up and down the floor" during practice.

Arenas hasn't played all season because of a knee injury that required three operations in a span of 18 months -- which also means the three-time All-Star has yet to play since signing a six-year, $111 million contract with the Wizards last summer.

The Wizards are assuming Arenas will play at some point this season, though president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said the team was not pressuring Arenas to come back soon.

"If he's healthy -- not if, when he's 100 percent healthy, he'll be back," Grunfeld told the Post. "It's going to be a decision from our medical staff and depending on how Gilbert feels. When the medical staff gives the clearance, he'll be back. He's not going to be rushed. We're hopeful that it's only a matter of time."

Said Arenas: "The way I look at it: I rushed back twice and got hurt again twice, so this time, I'm going to take my time and make sure."

Arenas wants to be doubly sure he is fully recovered before getting into a game situation again, because he believes he is responsible for the consequences of his premature return, which ended in his current layoff, the dismissal of Eddie Jordan as coach, and the team's worst season in the history of the franchise.

"If I wouldn't have rushed back last year, Eddie Jordan wouldn't have been fired," Arenas told the Post. "No way we start 1-10 if I'm right. Eddie would still be here."

Arenas like Grant?! NO!

2008-09-19T11:04:00.000+02:00

Everyone's over-reacting. It's true, I questioned whether this wouldn't hamper the Wizards' 2008-09. But all the "new Grant Hill," "waste of cash," "franchise is shot" talk is just ridiculous. First, some wise words from Ivan Carter:

-According to the folks I've spoken with, Arenas indeed followed the plan prescribed for him and has not pushed the knee as he did last summer. According to him, the knee has simply been bothering him and he made the decision to clean it out so that he can resume rehabbing and come back more quickly than he may have thought earlier.

- Keep in mind that today's news came as such a shocker because neither Arenas nor the team gave any impression that his rehab process was going at a pace that would lead to a return later than the opener. Apart from a few blogs and some short chats than included little detail, Arenas was silent this summer. I personally tried to get details about his rehab several times but he wasn't talking.

There's more there that, while not exactly uplifting, underscores the main point here: This is not out of the ordinary for someone coming back like Arenas is. And in the wake of Amare, Gilbert's comeback isn't nearly as much of a historic, or uphill, feat. Which is why it's stupid to see Hill's or Penny Hardaway's names thrown around. Those were a lifetime ago, medicine-wise. Since then, we've seen Stoudemire go from immobile to All-NBA in less than a year. And let's not forget that Greg Oden fellow -- the Blazers are still taken to be a future power on the strength of Oden, and yet no one's presuming this plan could crash and burn.

People like tragedy, excitement, upheaval, and good copy. Especially when it's about a player as magnetic, divisive, and thrilling as Arenas. He might not be back on the court at one-hundred percent right away, but Gilbert Arenas will return, and resume his career sooner rather than later. It's not about him, his outsider's personality, or his gonzo work ethic -- it's a simple fact of where sports medicine has gotten us to. There's just no reason to presume the world will end -- except for the fact that indulges our masochistic tendencies as fans.

Gilbert Arenas TV Show Leaked?

2008-09-03T12:50:00.000+02:00

On August 19, Gilbert Arenas called into WJFK’s ‘Big O and Dukes’ show and spoke about the possibility of his own reality show: “Ya know, it’s funny. I got a — you ever seen the show, ‘Rob and Big?’ The producers want to do a reality show on me — the first NBA player to do a reality show. But then I thought about it — I was like, my life is really not that exciting. Ya know, so, I’m thinking about it, because, ya know, I have players like Nick [Young], who’s goofy, so we can do paintball shooting and see who can get hurt on the grotto jumping into the pool…”

And now…thanks to some unscrupulous member of the media…details of Agent Zero’s reality TV show has been leaked on the Internet. I actually don’t have a problem with this because I suspect the show wasn’t really “leaked” but was real-fake-leaked in a clever PR stunt…all six episode summaries below…I, for one, plan on watching the show just to see Gil’s million-dollar pool and the Vasectomy episode.

Season 1 | Episode 1: “The Bed and Breakfast”

Gilbert Arenas is determined to open a quaint Bed and Breakfast called ‘Nacho Pillows,’ except he has no money after installing a million-dollar poolside grotto. So after meeting with his financial consultant (Dominic McGuire in glasses), Gil decides to hold a big ol’ garage sale. Overwhelmed by the amount of miscellaneous junk he has in storage, Gil calls in his good friend Nick Young to help him sort through the mess. They attempt to catch a bullhead shark with BBQ tongs. Hijinx ensue.

Season 1 | Episode 2: “The Birthday”

Gil turns 27 and receives a Terra Wind Amphibious RV from all of his teammates. (Well, except for Pecherov — he opts out of the group gift to buy Gil a previously viewed “Avenging Angelo” DVD.) Darius Songaila tries to organize a secret post-shoot around party for Gil, but Coach Eddie Jordan quickly squashes those plans because they have a game later that night. Furious, Songaila quits the team, flies back to Lithuania, and gets into the hotel management business.

Season 1 | Episode 3: “The Big City”

The Wizards take a bite of the Big Apple when they travel to New York to play the Knicks. After an embarrassing loss to the hometown team, the Wiz try to relax with a dinner at Andray Blatche’s favorite haunt, the macabre Jekyll & Hyde Restaurant. But the good times are shortly interrupted when Brendan Haywood becomes convinced there is an evil spirit trapped in his pumpkin tortellini. Gil eats the meal to prove him wrong. The next day, they all go to a taping of The View.

Season 1 | Episode 4: “The Vasectomy”

Gil thinks about getting a vasectomy, but it proves to be a tougher decision than he initially thought. Pecherov has unsteady hands. Meanwhile, DeShawn Stevenson calls in sick to work on his own Wikipedia page. (”DeShawn Stevenson, born April 3, 1981 in Fresno, California, is a warrior, man, a true warrior.”)

Season 1 | Episode 5 | “The Race”

Gilbert and Nick head to a professional car race to check out the new Indy Car team Gil just bought a stake in (Team Phantom). Nick begs Gil to let him take the car for a spin, but Gil says no. (”You’re horrible at Mario Kart, Nick!”). Of course, that doesn’t stop young Nicholas. While Gil is busying singing the national anthem, Nick takes the car out onto the track and somehow ends up in the race. He finishes fourth.

Season 1 | Episode 6: “The Fast”

Can Caron go without Mountain Dew for an entire day? That’s what Gilbert wants to find out. Gil tells every Wizards player, coach, trainer and vendor one very simple message: “Don’t give Caron a Mountain Dew.” It’s a long day, but in the end the All-Star forward logs 24 extreme-beverage-free hours. Unfortunately, though, by the time the fast is over he’s addicted to crack. Caron fails a drug test and is suspended three years. The Wizards fail to make the playoffs. Gil hosts a progressive rock concert in his solarium.

Open at Home With Nets, Face Cavs on Christmas

2008-08-14T19:14:00.000+02:00

After an offseason spent retaining Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, the Washington Wizards will open the 2008-09 season at Verizon Center on Oct. 29 against the New Jersey Nets and visit their nemesis, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Christmas night.

The Wizards released the 2008-09 schedule yesterday, revealing an 82-game slate that includes 11 games on national television. Among the nationally televised games is the Dec. 25 meeting against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, who have eliminated the Wizards from the postseason the past three seasons.

The Wizards first appear on national television on Nov. 12 against the Utah Jazz.

Washington fans will see the defending champion Boston Celtics at Verizon Center only on Dec. 11. The Wizards visit Boston for the first game of 2009 (Jan. 2) and the final game of the regular season (April 15).

The Los Angeles Lakers, who lost to the Celtics in the NBA Finals, come to Washington on Dec. 5.

"Milwaukee sucks" reaction lol

2008-07-23T09:25:00.000+02:00

It's been a very good month in Milwaukee. Summerfest and Bastille Days ended successful runs. The Brewers landed CC Sabathia and the Bucks traded for Richard Jefferson.
Because of these marquee names and events, Milwaukee, a city that we all know and love, is getting a ton of national publicity. Even some from an NBA star and blogger Gilbert Arenas, of the Washington Wizards.
I'm never one to believe that Milwaukee has the greatest national reputation. The fact is that cities our size usually fly a bit under the national media radar. That's fine.
But, reality is that too many people (sports "stars" included) have outdated or flat-out wrong impressions of what Milwaukee is. Add Arenas to this list.
Arenas writes a regular blog on nba.com called "Agent Zero: The Blog File." It's mildly entertaining, especially for big NBA fans like myself. Seems, though, that he isn't a big fan of the Mil.
In his July 14 blog, he writes about the many free agent signings and trades in the NBA, among other things. About new Bucks forward Richard Jefferson, he says:
"Richard Jefferson going to Milwaukee .... HAHAHA! Oh man, now that is funny. When I heard that, I started laughing. Oh man, did I start laughing. You know why? Because every player hates Milwaukee. Nobody wants to live in Milwaukee. I'm sorry, Milwaukee, to come down hard on you, but no one in the NBA wants to play in Milwaukee. From him going from New Jersey, actually from New York (because he lives in New York), from New York to Milwaukee is like going ... let's just say it's not going to sit well with you. That was a funny one when I heard that one. I know Yi is happy though."
"Every player" hates Milwaukee? Come on, Gilbert! It's no secret that Milwaukee isn't New York City or Chicago. But we aren't some two-cow town in Iowa either. It's tough, yes, for many corporations and sports teams to recruit "stars" to smaller market cities. But, the days of "Bush League" are gone and Milwaukee can and is competing. See forbes.com, which ranked Milwaukee the ninth best city for young professionals.
So, I take Arenas' comments with a proverbial grain of NBA salt and chalk them up to naivety and, frankly, a pure lack of first-hand perspective as to what Milwaukee is and isn't.
Arenas, by the way, just signed a new deal with the Wizards. It's reported to be a six-year, $111 million contract.

Wizards' Stars Have Not Shined

2008-04-25T15:40:00.000+02:00

Washington started the playoffs with Gilbert Arenas' draining 3-pointers while his teammates traded hard fouls with Cleveland. That lasted all of one half.

Though the Wizards have kept up the hard-fouling part, it seems the Cavs have been the only team scoring. They come to town for Thursday night's Game 3 holding a 2-0 series lead.

"For us to come out undisciplined and unfocused is a big disappointment," Wizards forward Antawn Jamison said. "We need to find a way to get into a rhythm when the game is going their way. We need to attack the rim better."

While Washington's complementary players have talked (DeShawn Stevenson) and fouled (Brendan Haywood) their way into the headlines, the Wizards' stars haven't made much of an impact.

Jamison, Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas have combined to average just 43.5 points in the first two games, making just 33 of 86 shots.

On the other end of the court, LeBron James is averaging 31 points, eight assists and 7.5 rebounds while stretching his career playoff record against Washington to 10-2. Not bad for a guy Stevenson called overrated.

James also covered Arenas more in Game 2. The 6-foot-9 swingman helped hold the Wizards star — who struggled with a sprained wrist — to just seven points on 2-of-10 shooting.

If they want to get back in the series, the Wizards will need to pay less attention to defaming James and more to making shots. Washington — which set a team record with 575 3's in the regular season — was just 9-for-40 from behind the arc in the first two games and made only 39 percent of its shots from the floor.

"The series is not over with," Jamison said. "They did what they were supposed to do ... and now we have to defend our home court."

Arenas Would Take Pay Cut for Jamison

2008-04-03T16:27:00.000+02:00

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said last night that — while he still plans on opting out this summer to sign a max deal — he is willing to take a pay cut so the team can re-sign Antawn Jamison, who will be an unrestricted free agent.

"Just sign Antawn first, and I'll take the pay cut," Arenas said. "That way, we can keep the team intact. I want him to be a done deal first, then I'll go after that."

Arenas has one year left on his $65 million deal, but he previously said he would opt out to sign a six-year deal that would pay roughly $14 million a year. Jamison is making $16.36 million this season.

The Wizards traditionally manage to avoid taking a hit from the NBA luxury tax, which penalizes teams whose payroll exceeds the predetermined tax level. Teams pay a dollar for each dollar their payroll surpasses the luxury tax.

But to re-sign both Arenas and Jamison, Washington likely would have to take a hit. Team president Ernie Grunfeld has said the Wizards will do whatever they need to do to re-sign both of those players.

Team president Ernie Grunfeld has said the team will do whatever it needs to do to re-sign both players, but Arenas offered his solution last night.

"We've been together six of my seven years, so we understand," Arenas said. "We know what's at jeopardy, so I told them give [Jamison] what he wants, and I'll take the pay cut. I know he's part of my success. I'm part of his success. We have this 1-2 combination, and it's effective in this league. We know we make each other better, and someone has to sacrifice. This might be one of [Jamison's] last contracts, and hopefully I'll get another one. At the end of the day, if I don't, I know I did the right thing."

Jamison, who will turn 32 next season, is averaging 21.6 points and 10.4 rebounds. Arenas, who averaged 22.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in eight games this season before undergoing surgery on his left knee, said signing for as many years as possible is greater motivation for him than dollars if the Wizards can re-sign Jamison.

Slumping Wizards Have a Long Way to Go

2008-02-12T21:20:00.000+01:00

The all-star break can't arrive fast enough for the slumping Washington Wizards, who matched a season-long five-game losing streak with a home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
However, before the Wizards have a chance to catch some rest and, perhaps, get some of their key players back from injury, they will embark on a challenging four-game road trip that opens tonight in Denver.
The trip continues with games at Phoenix (Sunday night) and Golden State (Monday night) before wrapping up in Los Angeles with a game against the Clippers on Wednesday.
The Wizards (24-24) may be without all-star Caron Butler tonight against Denver (29-19) after the forward aggravated the left hip injury that forced him to miss three games last week.
Butler sat out Wednesday's loss to the Spurs and is officially listed as 'day-to-day' but was experiencing severe discomfort following Tuesday's loss in Philadelphia. The team athletic trainer and Butler could decide to rest him until the hip heals, although the Wizards are 1-4 without him.
In the locker room after Wednesday's game, several players talked about playing without Butler as if it were inevitable.
'We are playing without Caron for a couple of games but we have enough to get it done,' all-star forward Antawn Jamison said. 'We realize the importance of these next four games before we break and get ready for the second half of the season.'
After missing two games against Toronto last week and another against Utah, Butler returned to face his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers, on Sunday and played 39 minutes after not going through a full practice all week.
If Butler misses more games, his teammates will have to find a way to snap the losing streak on their own, and many of them saw positive signs in Wednesday's competitive 85-77 loss to the defending champion Spurs.
The Wizards led 58-57 entering the fourth quarter and received a strong effort from Andray Blatche, who started for Butler and finished with 16 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and two blocks.
'We played better, and even though the outcome wasn't what we wanted, we know that if we play like we did [Wednesday night], we can win some games,' said reserve guard Roger Mason Jr. 'We can be encouraged by that.'
After falling to 0-5 with an ugly 118-92 home loss to Denver on Nov. 9, the Wizards bounced back to win the next six games. However, Butler was the team's leading scorer in three of those games and injured guard Gilbert Arenas was in the lineup for the first three. Arenas plans to return to game action sometime after the all-star break.
Experiencing success on the trip -- and without Butler, success might be going 2-2 -- could hinge on the contributions of players such as Blatche, Mason, Darius Songaila and rookies Nick Young, Oleksiy Pecherov and Dominic McGuire.
Blatche has been particularly affective as a starter. In five games as a starter (Blatche made one start for Butler on Dec. 22 when Butler was out with sprained ankles), the third-year forward-center has averaged 15.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and three blocks in 34.5 minutes while shooting 50 percent.

Wizards Need Agent Zero ASAP

2008-01-11T19:26:00.000+01:00

Impossible is Nothing.That's what injured Washington Wizards All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas promotes in his Adidas advertisement. Perhaps a return to the hardwood this season will be impossible for Arenas, or maybe there's nothing to worry about at all. The former may suit the Wizards best even though it's much like chewing on tin foil with fillings in your molars. Arenas has been sidelined for quite some time this season because of knee surgery -- the second in the last seven months. He underwent surgery in April to repair a torn lateral meniscus, then had another procedure performed in November to repair a partial tear in the left medial meniscus. Sounds like Mr. Arenas is having some problems with that left knee. He has only played in eight games this season and is averaging 22.4 points for the Wizards, who are 14-11 without their best player on the floor. According to the former Arizona standout, he is pain free and expects to return "sometime between the middle of February to the middle of March." By that time Washington could be prepping for the NBA Draft. It is, however, 17-16 so far this season and sits 3 1/2 games behind the Orlando Magic for the top spot in the Southeast Division. If Arenas was healthy, who knows where the Wizards would be right now. Washington had a two-game winning streak stopped with Tuesday's 92-84 setback to the Houston Rockets in the finale of a short two-game homestand at the Verizon Center. The Wizards, who have dropped six of their last 10 games, are 10-8 in D.C. this season. The Wizards will play six of the next 11 games on the road, starting with the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on Friday, January 11. They are 7-8 as the guest in 2007-08. In other teams news, All-Star Caron Butler is leading the team with 21.9 points and 4.6 assists in 32 games this season. Butler has scored 20 or more points 20 times this season and has hit the 30-point mark on three occasions, including a career-high 39 points against Charlotte on November 21. Butler, who suffered a season-ending hand injury before the playoffs last year, is on pace to become the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991-92 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals per game with a .500-plus field goal percentage.

Long time no... nothing! :)

2007-11-22T19:44:00.000+01:00

But here I am, back from the dead. hehe
No, just college duties and stuff like that...

Anyway, Gilbo's season so far? 22 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast... Well, he could do better!

But, as you know, HE'S OUT FOR TREE MONTHS, CRYING OUT LOUD :(((((

From NBA.com:

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Gilbert Arenas underwent surgery on his left knee. The surgery was performed at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC by Wizards' team physician Dr. Marc Connell.

"I repaired a partial tear of Gilbert's left medial meniscus," said Connell. "In addition, he had a nonweight-bearing articular surface defect in the trochlea treated by microfracture. We are optismitic that he will be able to return to action in three months."

"Gilbert worked extremely hard this summer to be ready for the beginning of the season," Grunfeld said. "This is very unfortunate because he was starting to play at high level prior to the injury. We expect Gilbert to make a full recovery, and are confident that our other players will step up and help our team win."

Arenas underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning and then had surgery later this afternoon at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Arenas will begin rehabilitation next week, and is expected to make a full recovery.

Arenas played and started in eight games this season, averaging 22.4 points, 5.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 39.3 minutes per game. He scored 30 and 27 points in wins against Indiana and Minnesota, respectively, but experienced some soreness and swelling in his left knee after the game against the Timberwolves. Arenas missed Washington's last two games against Portland and Philadelphia.

Wizards will definitely have a hard time without him. But I am sure that when he gets back, he will be even better than before :)
And until then, I will not have much to write about... Which is good in a way hahaha.
OF COURSE NOT, JUST JOKING!!!!

Getting Back Into Game Condition

2007-09-22T23:10:00.000+02:00

Michael Lee of the Washington Post visited the Verizon Center, where nearly all of the Wizards (minus those playing in Europe, or at the Rookie Transitions Program) are assembled and scrimmaging. Lee writes on his blog:

Gilbert didn't appear to be slowed down much by his left knee, which was covered with a black brace. He didn't really try to burst toward the basket too much, settling for jumpers instead. He certainly hasn't lost his ability to talk trash, though. He hit a game-winning jumper, then stared down the guy who was guarding him (one of those dudes I don't know) and asked him, "Where's my newspaper?" Somebody handed Arenas a magazine with his picture on the cover. "You know what this should say?" Arenas told the guy, pointing to his name on magazine. "Lights You Up."

Gilbert Arenas Wants to Be Animated!

2007-09-03T15:15:00.000+02:00

Inspired in part by the popularity of his blog, Gilbert Arenas is bringing Gilbertology to a library, TV and laptop near you. In addition to writing a hoops-themed self-help book, the quirky Wizards guard will be the gaming guru in a video series for FoxSports.com, and is pitching a reality series that would place him in Simple Life-like settings, tentatively shooting next year. Agent Zero is also developing a cartoon series centering on himself as a child. How that would differ from his real life is unclear.

:D
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Hibachi Picture Contest

2007-08-17T23:56:00.000+02:00

inwFrom NBA.com:

Are you Hibachi enough? We saw Gilbert Arenas turn on the Hibachi during the season, now it's your turn to show us your hibachi combined with some creative photography skills. Take pictures of yourself, your family, or your friends in front of your hibachi, grill, or barbecue pit. Feel free to make these pictures as creative as you would like, it doesn't hurt to show us your Wizards spirit, but just remember to have fun!

SUBMIT YOUR PICTURE: To submit your "Hibachi" picture please prepare an email addressed to wizardspromotions@washsports.com. In the subject line please enter "Hibachi Contest Entry." In the body of the email please include the following: First Name, Last Name, Street Address, City, State, Zip, Age, Phone Number, and attach your image file (.JPEG).
***Please keep image file size below 3MB, if larger we cannot guarantee that we will receive your entry***

THE WINNER: The winning picture will be posted to our site and others will be posted throughout the duration of the contest. Good luck! The grand prize winner will receive a signed Gilbert Arenas jersey!

USE OF PICTURE: By entering this contest, you agree to have your submitted photograph displayed on the washingtonwizards.com website with your first name and city of residence displayed. All late entries will not be considered. By submitting you also agree to receive the Wizards E-Newsletter, Wizards Wire.

I apologize...

2007-08-03T23:21:00.000+02:00

I know that many of you (more like EVERYONE) don't like the commercials on my blog (like on any other), but I'm affraid that it's a thing I can't be withut because it makes me money. :-)
And we all know that no one knows one who doesn't love it!
So please don't be mad at me and keep visiting my blog.
Hope you enjoy it!
And hey, you can even click on an ad!! :-D
And also, if you like making money, you can join Cashfiesta using the big annoying banner on the middle of your screen, or, if you are lazy to scroll up, you can click on this: http://www.cashfiesta.com/php/join.php?ref=achileus

Thank you for reading this!

U.S. men's team gets surprise scrimmage opponent in Arenas

2007-08-02T23:45:00.000+02:00

Seventeen months ago, Scottie Reynolds played his final basketball game at Herndon High. On Thursday he scrimmaged against Gilbert Arenas.
Practicing with the U.S. men’s Pan American Games team against a squad of current and former professionals at Verizon Center, Reynolds even hit a couple of 3-pointers while being guarded by the Washington Wizards superstar and second-team All-NBA pick.
“It was all luck,” said Reynolds. “It was beginner’s luck. I ain’t making nothing of that.”
Arenas’ spot decision to take part in the scrimmage and Reynolds’ shooting were the highlights on the first of three days of practice at Verizon Center before the team departs next week for Brazil.
“Just going against him ... it brought the best out of me,” said Reynolds. “I hope I get to play against him again.”
Georgetown center Roy Hibbert and Maryland forward James Gist, both rising seniors, complete a total of three local players on the 12-man U.S. roster.
“Talent-wise, I think Roy is off the charts,” said U.S. head coach Jay Wright. “James, early at trials, didn’t show much. But every day he just does more and more.”
Wright, who is Reynolds’ head coach at Villanova, was happy to see his rising sophomore star shine after not talking to him during trials.
“I told him, ‘I want your teammates to know that you earned it,’” said Wright. “And he did. It was tough on him because he struggled a little bit. But he showed great leadership, great toughness. He didn’t shoot the ball well in trials, but as you saw today, he’s been shooting the ball great since we picked the team.”
The U.S. opens preliminary play July 25 against Uruguay, then meets Panama on July 26 and Argentina on July 27. The competition’s semifinals will be held on July 28 and the final will be July 29.

Gilbert Arenas Quotes (smart words :-)

2007-06-08T19:19:00.000+02:00

“Everyone wants to play against the world champs and see where they stand as a team, ... We get a glimpse of them early to see where we stand as a basketball club. We're not at that level yet but we're trying to get there.”

Chucky hit those four 3s in a row to get us back in the game, ... We would never have been in the game if Chucky didn't step up.”

“I watched the replay five times and it wasn't a foul. It was a foul on him. I didn't even get the charge. He was falling before I even got there. When a rookie ref gets put in that situation -- somebody who weighs 215 going against somebody who weighs 165 -- it's an obvious call to make.”

“[Lewis' All-Star bonanza got us wondering if Arenas had a similar clause in his contract. After all, he too was a former second-round pick. But unlike Lewis, Arenas signed a contract with the Wizards in '03 that used up all of Washington's available salary cap space at the time. NBA rules don't allow teams to add incentive clauses that exceed the available cap space.] In Gilbert's case we negotiated a contract where the Wizards used all their available salary cap room to sign [him] to guaranteed salary, ... As a result no bonuses were available.”

Gilbert Arenas on NBA live 2008 cover!

2007-06-02T19:54:00.000+02:00

:)
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=)
:D
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=)

Better defense is high-scoring Arenas' next goal

2007-05-13T19:30:00.000+02:00

Gilbert Arenas is vowing to be a better defensive player when he completes his comeback from season-ending surgery on his left knee.
Arenas
"This summer I have to work hard to get my knee back to 100 percent and make sure my legs are stronger than they were last year," Arenas said Thursday, when he made the All-NBA second team.
"Working on getting my knees stronger will help improve my defense, too, because I can get down and play defense for a longer period of time."
During the season, Arenas and Wizards coach Eddie Jordan clashed publicly about Jordan's desire for better defense.
Arenas joined Elvin Hayes as the only players in franchise history to receive an All-NBA honor three consecutive seasons.
"It's a real accomplishment," Arenas said in a statement issued by the Wizards, "and a lot of the credit has to go to my teammates."
He was a third-team selection after the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
Arenas finished third in the league in scoring this season, averaging 28.4 points, and helped the Wizards reach the playoffs for the third straight year. But he missed the postseason after having knee surgery April 5.
He scored 30 or more points in 35 games and 50 or more points in three, including a franchise-record 60 against the Los Angeles Lakers in December.
With Arenas leading the way, Washington ranked fourth in the NBA in offense at 104.3 points. But the Wizards also allowed 104.9 points per game -- more than all but two teams in the 30-team NBA.
"We have been playoff contenders for three years in a row, but that is not good enough anymore. We want to get to the Eastern Conference finals," Arenas said Thursday. "We can score with anybody in this league and we proved that this season, but we know now that the way to get better is to get better on defense. I'm going to get stronger so that we can do that."
Arenas also said he's ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.
"I can walk without crutches, I can walk up the stairs, and I'll probably be able to get on the treadmill next week," he said.

Arenas Says that Next Season He'll Be Better Than Ever

2007-04-29T23:04:00.000+02:00

All-star guard Gilbert Arenas says he plans to spend this summer rehabilitating his surgically repaired left knee, not lobbying for major changes to the Washington Wizards' roster.
Arenas, who met with reporters before last night's Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Verizon Center, said he plans to come back "better than ever" next season. He has been out since tearing meniscus in his left knee against Charlotte on April 4 and underwent surgery the following day.
"I have a long summer, I'm not going on vacation this summer," said Arenas, who will be featured on the cover of the popular video game "NBA Live" when it is released in October. "We'll stay here and make sure this knee is 100 percent. I'm going to come back stronger than I was last year. Faster. I have to work at it."
Arenas said he hopes the Wizards keep their core group together.
With Arenas racking up huge scoring games and hitting game-winning shots, Caron Butler playing at an all-star level and Antawn Jamison adding scoring and rebounding, the team went 22-9 in December and January and rose to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Arenas and Butler joined Coach Eddie Jordan in representing the Wizards at All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas in February and Washington came out of the all-star break looking like a team that could win between 45 to 50 games and make a deep playoff run.
Those hopes were damaged by injuries to Jamison and Butler and really took a hit when Butler went out for the season with a broken bone in his right hand on April 1 and when Arenas went down a few days later.
"At the end of the day, I still want to give this team one more shot when we're healthy," Arenas said, "because we were one of the top teams in this league for a while there and we showed that we can be a dangerous team."
Arenas has two seasons remaining on his contract but could opt out following the 2007-08 season if he and the team do not agree to an extension. Arenas has repeatedly stressed a desire to compete for a championship and has said he fears falling into a position similar to those experienced by perennial all-stars Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett in recent years -- great players with big contracts who got stuck on non-contending teams.
"I have one more year to see how everything pans out, so going into next summer it is going to be: Either this team is going where I think it can go, or is it my time to move on?" Arenas said. "In December and January, we were one of the best in this league but you always need to improve. It's hard to say what players need to go and what players need to stay because over the course of the year you fall in love with all of them, so that's the big man upstairs' decision. I can't make that decision. Whoever comes on that floor with me, I'm going to go to battle."
Arenas said he won't offer opinions to President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld, who kick-started the franchise's resurgence shortly after taking over in the summer of 2003 by signing Arenas.
"No, I'm a player and I think that's where players get mixed up sometimes," Arenas said. "In this league, there are players, there are [general managers] and there are coaches. Whoever steps on that floor, that's who I roll with."
Arenas said doctors have told him that he could be cleared to resume full basketball activity by August. He is leaning toward not training with the U.S. men's national team as it attempts to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Arenas reaches 30 for hot-shooting Wizards

2007-03-18T16:56:00.000+01:00

It's been awhile since the Washington Wizards won a game without Caron Butler. It's been even longer since an NBA player had two four-point plays in the same game.
And how long has it been since a cheerleader tore her ACL trying to dunk? Who knows?
Gilbert Arenas took care of the first two items on that list Saturday night, but only after a quick recovery from a trans-Atlantic flight to experience the joy of fatherhood. Arenas scored 30 points -- including four-at-a-time twice -- to lead the Wizards to a 125-103 victory over the tired and slumping New Orleans Hornets.
Arenas missed practice Friday to fly to Oakland to witness the birth of his first son, Alijah Amani Arenas. He returned on the redeye early Saturday and slept much of the day.
"I was tired, crazy, excited all in one," Arenas said. "I tried to make sure I stayed off my feet, but to see my son being born, that was just exciting. I'm king of the castle now."
The king went 10-for-18 from the field, 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and had 11 assists. He was also fouled by Marc Jackson while hitting a 3-pointer late in the third quarter and by Bobby Jackson while making a 3 early in the fourth. He converted the free throw each time, making him the first player to have two four-point plays in the same game since Tracy McGrady did it for Orlando against Memphis on Nov. 12, 2003.
"That's what I do. I do things like that," Arenas said. "Right now I'm on top of the charts."
That bit of boastfulness was too much for teammate Antonio Daniels, who interrupted by shouting incredulously: "Did you just say, 'That's what I do?' That's what I do!"
"I'm allowed to say that," said Arenas, exercising his usual Gilbertology. "This is my interview."
What Arenas and his teammates hadn't done recently is win without Butler. They had lost eight straight without their All-Star forward -- five when he had a sprained thumb late last season and three when he had back spasms a few weeks ago. His latest ailment, a bruised knee, didn't derail the Wizards this time as they shot a season-high 58 percent from the field to move one-half game ahead of Miami atop the Southeast Division.
Butler will miss all of the upcoming five-game road trip, but the Wizards can live without him if they keep getting contributions from everyone -- the entire active roster had scored by the end of the third quarter -- and if they keep encountering struggling teams like the Hornets.
"We had 12 guys play the right way, play very well for 48 minutes," Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. "We shared the ball well, the bench did a great job, and we just caught a team that was coming off an emotional win last night. We got them on the back-to-back, and our focus was to keep pushing, keep pushing and make them play on their heels a little bit."
New Orleans, trying to stay in contention for a playoff berth in the Western Conference, lost for the seventh time in eight games. The Hornets entered the game leading the league in rebounding, but they grabbed only 32 boards to the Wizards' 43. Chris Paul, playing the second game of a back-to-back for the first time since he was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot, led his team with 21 points and eight assists in 32 minutes.
"We got our butt kicked. I just thought our guys were tired," New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. "Every year when you're playing 82 games, you're going to lay an egg. Tonight was one of those nights where we laid a big-time egg."
New Orleans' only lead was 2-0. The Wizards shot 68 percent in the first quarter to take a 39-30 lead and were up by 10 both at halftime and at the end of the third. They put the game away with a 22-4 run to open the fourth, allowing Arenas to sit for good with 5:23 left in the game.
In fact, the only reason to watch the fourth quarter was to see a stunt involving the Wizards dance team during a timeout. The girls attempted to dunk the ball after bouncing on a mini-trampoline. One dancer made her dunk and hung on the rim -- then landed awkwardly and was taken to the hospital with a torn ACL.
Antawn Jamison added 21 points for the Wizards, who have won two straight following a three-game skid that had put their division lead in jeopardy. DeShawn Stevenson scored 18 points, and Darius Songaila matched his season-high with 12.
David West had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Hornets.

Roth on Arenas

2007-02-11T20:06:00.000+01:00

Frequent CSTB contributor David Roth makes another well deserved appearance in Friday’s Wall Street Journal, profiling the Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas. Dropping a few other names you might be familiar with, Roth proclaims Gil “the NBA’s first true 21st century star.”
It’s fitting that so much of Mr. Arenas’ popularity involves the Internet. Slam Magazine’s Lang Whitaker recently called him “the NBA’s first blog superstar.” It’s hard to disagree, considering that Mr. Arenas was given a favorite nickname by one blog (”Agent Zero” originated with the Wizards fan site Wizznutzz), adopted said nickname after he was told about it by another blogger (Dan Steinberg, author of the Washington Post’s popular D.C. Sports Bog ), and now explains “Hibachi” on his own blog (actually a transcribed phone call with an NBA.com staffer, but rich in blog-style mental channel-surfing).
Of course bloggers love him. James Morris, a co-founder of Wizznutzz, has compiled “a notebook full” of prospective, dazzlingly free-associative Arenas-related sneaker commercials, one of which “involves an elaborate magic-realist sequence featuring Zero Mostel.”
Not get all post-mod on you, but given another DC icon’s history collaborating with a member of the Mostel clan, Wizznutzz’ scheme is really just part of a longer, richer artistic tradition.
I’m writing, of course, about Henry Rollins’ performance alongside Josh Motel in “The Chase”.

Arenas wins shooting bet

2007-02-05T18:56:00.000+01:00

Wizards star Gilbert Arenas bet young teammate DeShawn Stevenson $20,000 that he could make more collegiate 3-pointers with one hand than the kid could hit with both hands. Amazingly, Arenas hit 73 of 100 treys with the one hand. The Washington Post reports that Arenas was nailing shots from out of bounds by the end of his exhibition. Stevenson responded by hitting his first 13 3-pointers and 17 of 18. But with Arenas distracting him with taunts and weird body movements, Stevenson came up just short before stalking off. "Hey, I hope this don't mess you up for tomorrow," Arenas yelled to his departing teammate.

Wizards fight back

2007-01-28T21:50:00.000+01:00

BOSTON -- After the Phoenix Suns came to the District earlier this week and smacked down the Washington Wizards, there were some questions about why the Wizards weren't hanging their heads. After all, not only had they lost to the hottest team in the league, but now they were in the middle of preparing for a game against the Detroit Pistons, the best in the Eastern Conference over the last five years. The Wizards were primed to drop a second straight game. But the Wizards (25-17) have been a resilient team this season, which accounts for them having the best record in the Eastern Conference. They responded with a hard-fought victory, and today they will try to throttle a team they are favored to beat. "We're going to get a young and feisty Boston team," Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said. 'They came into our place and they gave us a scuffle. We need to go in there and play tough." That has been the nature of the Wizards this season. They have lost back-to-back just once since Nov. 25. "We've been very resilient this season," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "We've got good leadership out of people like Antawn [Jamison]. It's just the competitive nature of this team." Since losing four straight to fall to 4-9, the Wizards are 21-8. In that time they've shown a remarkable ability to bounce back after a loss and play a strong game. In that span, their only back-to-back losses were when they seemed to overlook injury-depleted New Orleans/Oklahoma City and lost at San Antonio the next night. The Wizards rebounded from that 93-80 loss with four straight wins - including victories over Western Conference power Utah and a rout of Orlando - before the Suns destroyed them. The Wizards have at times this season played down to the level of their competition, which was probably the case when they played host to the Celtics on Jan. 20. The Wizards were toying with the Celtics - still without key players Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak - building a first-half lead that reached 21 points. But the Wizards didn't maintain their intensity against Boston and were forced to win the game in overtime. And the Celtics (12-30) - the last-place team in the woeful Atlantic Division - haven't won since. Boston's last win came against at Memphis on Jan. 5, and its 10-game losing streak is the longest since 1999-2000. In the Celtics' last game -- a 96-90 loss to the Toronto Raptors -- they gave up 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "Every game is just so tough right now," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "We're so mistake-prone because who we are sometimes." That is just the opposite of the way things have been going for the Wizards this season. Not only did they outplay the Pistons in Detroit -- thus giving the Wizards back-to-back wins in Detroit in the last two seasons -- but they did it with poise, committing a season-low seven turnovers. "A lot of those good things are happening for us because we're more mature than we were last season," Wizards forward Caron Butler said. "That's why we cant afford to let up no matter who we play."

MVP chants

2007-01-20T13:45:00.000+01:00

The MVP chants are growing louder in Washington. Gilbert Arenas made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap a 51-point performance in the Washington Wizards' 114-111 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Arenas left the court to a chorus of 'M-V-P! M-V-P!'
'MVP? That trophy is given out at the end of the year,' Arenas said. 'This is (37) games into the season so you can't do too much about it.
'Right now, Steve Nash is above everybody. You have to really do something dramatic in this league. If Kobe averages 35 with an 81 and he didn't get it, you have to do something else in this league to overtake what Steve Nash has done.'
Arena matched the Verizon Center record of 51 points set by Michael Jordan against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 29, 2001.
Arenas provided plenty of drama in the final 2:09 of a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee by converting three 3-pointers and three free throws to eclipse the 50-point mark for the third time this season. He shot 14-for-29 from the field, including 7-for-12 on 3-pointers, and 16-for-17 at the free-throw line. He also had five assists and committed only one turnover in 41 minutes.
'I'm going for the gusto,' Arenas said. 'I'm going for that winner. The funny part is I was sitting right here before the game and I told DeShawn (Stevenson): 'I feel like 37 and the game-winner tonight.' So when I told him after the game: 'What did I say?' He just started laughing and said: 'Man, you were right.''
It was the seventh time this season Arenas scored 40 or more points and the most points he's ever tallied at the Verizon Center.
'I'm going to break all the records that's here,' Arenas said with a laugh of his own. 'I'm glad it was an older Michael than a younger Michael because if it was a younger Michael it would have been up there.'
Carlos Boozer's putback of Derek Fisher's 3-point airball tied the score at 111 with 11 seconds left.
Arenas took the ensuing inbounds pass and ran the clock down until he launched the game-winner over Deron Williams.
'I felt like I was in a win-win situation, go to OT or make the shot,' Arenas said. 'I was on fire the last three minutes of the game so there was no point of going in and trying to create two points. Once I felt the ball come out of my hands, I knew it was going in. It had great arc and it was lined up with the rim, so I started celebrating pre-make. I put my hands up because I knew the game was over.'
Williams said he knew what was coming but could do nothing to stop Arenas.
'I looked up with four seconds and he was still messing with the ball, so I tried to get up on him a little more,' Williams said. 'He made a little move, a little step, I backed up a little bit and that is when he raised up. I tried to get a hand up.
'Everybody in the arena knew he was going to shoot it. We knew he was going to shoot it. He just made a great shot.'
Caron Butler had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Wizards, who won their eighth straight at home and improved to 15-3 at the Verizon Center. Brendan Haywood added his fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Mehmet Okur led Utah with a career-high 38 points and nine rebounds. Boozer added 27 points and 13 rebounds, giving him five double-doubles in the past six games. Williams added 12 points and 13 assists for his 10th double-double of the season.
After Arenas' 3-pointer tied the score at 1:06 with 1:40 left, Okur's 3-pointer gave Utah a 109-106 lead. Arenas responded with three free throws to tie the score with 1:09 remaining.
'They were going shot for shot,' Williams said of Arenas and Okur. 'He was coming down hitting threes and Memo was coming down and bailing us out.'
Jarvis Hayes' follow shot gave Washington a 111-109 lead with 24 seconds left, but Boozer's follow tied it at 111, setting the stage for Arenas, who handed the Jazz their fourth straight loss.
The Jazz led by 16 points in the first half, outscored the Wizards 30-18 in the paint during the first half and led 58-48 at halftime.
Arenas scored less than 20 points for only the fifth time this season during the Wizards' 93-80 loss in San Antonio on Saturday night. In the games following those subpar performances, Arenas is averaging 35.5 points.

Knicks must stop him!

2007-01-16T23:39:00.000+01:00

Gilbert Arenas was the fourth-leading scorer in the NBA last season, so it's not as if he just burst on to the scene. But the Washington Wizards' point guard has reached a new stratosphere lately -- dare we say a Jordanesque stratosphere? -- with three 50-point-plus performances in his last 15 games, including a 51-point effort Monday that featured a game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer against Utah.
Isiah Thomas has noticed. The Knicks' coach saw highlights of Arenas' cool-as-ice three-pointer and just shook his head. He'll get to see the 25-year-old up close Wednesday night as the Knicks visit Washington for their third meeting of the season with the Wizards.
'We haven't quite figured out how you're going to guard him because he's such a unique player right now,' Thomas said Tuesday after practice at the MSG Training Center. 'The ball's in his hands coming up the floor. He's not coming off screens.'
Arenas has dropped 22 and 38 on the Knicks so far; he had 60 on Dec. 17 against the Lakers and 54 on Dec. 22 at Phoenix. His season average of 30.2 points is second in the league to Denver's Carmelo Anthony (31.6), who has played 15 fewer games because of the suspension handed down after the Dec. 16 brawl with the Knicks. Anthony is scheduled to return Monday.
'Right now, he's as scary an offensive player as we have in the league,' Thomas said of Arenas, whose 51 points were the most by a Wizard at home since Michael Jordan scored 51 against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 29, 2001. 'I think a lot of things have been tried against him and none of it has appeared to work. It's a tough matchup. We're definitely going to have our hands full.'
Thomas said Stephon Marbury will start defensively against the 6-4, 215-pound Arenas. Thomas mentioned 6-11 former Wizard Jared Jeffries and 6-8 rookie Renaldo Balkman as players who will take a turn attempting to guard him.
'It's just a matter of trying to force him to do things, keep him guessing,' said Jeffries, who will be making his return to Washington. 'Don't let him get into a rhythm.'
On his blog at NBA.com Tuesday, Arenas offered his own preview of Wednesday night's game: 'It will be hard play. They have Jared back. We get to see a new look. It's a new team than we've been playing in the past. They've been winning games. Since we played them, they've hit game-winners and all kinds of stuff. Jamal Crawford has been playing well. Stephon Marbury's playing better than he was at the beginning of the season, so we expect a game out of it. I look at the game the same. I don't think the guy in front of me can stop me. It's all about who the help defense is.'
That's what the Knicks are saying: Help!
C ya later. Thomas on Chris Webber's decision to sign with the Pistons: 'I'm happy for the Pistons. I always want them to do well except for when they play us. I'm happy for Chris. I think that will be a good spot for him. I think he'll help that team tremendously.' Thomas said he spoke to Webber to see if the former All-Star wanted to be a Knick. He didn't. 'I understood his reasoning,' he said. 'He wanted to play for a team he thought was right there, that could win the championship. Detroit is definitely one of those teams.'

Celebreality inteview with Gilbert

2007-01-15T23:22:00.000+01:00

Gilbert Arenas always wanted to be famous. Now that the Wizards’ leader has scaled the heights of NBA superstardom, he’s finding out that life in the spotlight isn’t everything he thought it would be. Words. Austin Burton Has it all been an act? That which we thought we knew about Gilbert Arenas – namely, the way he takes any perceived slight as inspiration to make opponents bend to his will on the basketball court – has defined the 24-year-old superstar’s six-year NBA career as much as his mounting skills and accomplishments. Followers of the game have been well educated in the methods of Arenas’ motivation. They know why he’s worn No. 0 since college. They know about the 2001 draft-night tumble into the second round. They know about last season’s “Revenge Tour,” sparked by his initial All-Star snub. They know that, after he was left off USA Basketball’s roster for the ’06 World Championships, Arenas predicted pain for Team USA assistant Nate McMillan’s Trail Blazers and assistant Mike D’Antoni’s Suns. And yet, the morning after his Washington Wizards lost their ’06-07 regular season opener in Cleveland, Arenas divulges that what we thought we knew may not have been real. “I just do it because everyone expects it now,” Arenas says of the widely reported motivational tools. At this, he breaks into the mischievous laugh of someone who has just revealed a secret. “Everyone expects me to say something, so I’ll just do it.” So none of them – none of the famous chips on your shoulder – are real? “No, it’s not that. Going in the second round of the draft, that’s enough motivation in itself,” Gilbert says. “Being a second-round pick, that hurt me so much that I’ll still have pain until the end of my career about that. But, like, the Team USA thing, I was just saying that. I can’t do nothin’ about that. Nate McMillan and Mike D’Antoni didn’t have nothin’ to do with that. I can’t go back to college and play against Duke (and Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski), can I?” No matter what Gilbert Arenas uses – or has been using – to push him to become a master in his field, there is no denying the results. Last season, the 6-4 All-Star point guard averaged 29.3 points per game, placing him fourth in the NBA in scoring. He also finished in the League’s top five in steals (2.0 per game), three-pointers, free throws and minutes played. Eleven times he scored 40 or more points in a game, including 40-plus outings against three of the League’s top defenses in Miami, San Antonio and Chicago. He led the Wizards to the playoffs for the second straight year, and put up 34 points, five rebounds and five assists per game in a first round series loss to the Cavaliers. While the story of that series was LeBron James, it was also the stage where Arenas officially made the leap into a bona fide American celebrity. Gilbert’s game is unique: he plays the point and certainly puts up respectable assist numbers (6.1 apg last year), but any discussion of his talents always reverts back to the way he gets buckets. His offensive repertoire is as vast as any elite scorer in recent memory. From the stop-and-go drives to the pull-up jumpers to the limitless-range threes, Arenas is as impossible to guard as any player in the game. “He has the ability to score the ball in so many different ways,” says Troy Weaver, a scout for the Utah Jazz who hails from the D.C. area. “He gets to the rim as well as any guard in the League; it’s probably Gilbert and Dwyane Wade at the top of the list. He can shoot the long ball, and he has the uncanny ability to get fouled. He’s a load to handle on the offensive end. What makes him a special player is his ability to be explosive at any time. You can hold him down in the first half, and then in the third quarter he’ll drop 18 or 20 points on you.” “I’m just a different breed for some reason,” Arenas self-assesses. “I personally feel like, pound-for-pound, as far as the best offensive player all-around, who can you say is better than me? People say that once I get past half court I have no conscience. And you know what? They’re right. I feel comfortable taking any shot past half court.” How long have you felt that way? “Since the first day I came into the League.” FROM DIME MAG

Gilbo in for MVP?!

2007-01-05T17:41:00.000+01:00

If Gilbert Arenas keeps this up, he'll have some MVP votes to go with his ''swag.''
As if dropping 60 and 54 points in the last three weeks weren't enough, the Washington Wizards point guard gave the nation's capital a show-stopping, Jordan-esque moment Wednesday with a game-winning buzzer-beater from 32 feet.
To top it all off, Arenas acted as if he'd been there before. He turned his back to the basket with a snarl and starting strolling away while the ball was in flight. The players celebrated the 108-105 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at midcourt by greeting their star with chest bumps and yelling ''Hibachi!'' the word Arenas sometimes yells when he knows he's hit all net.
''We call it swag,'' teammate Antawn Jamison said. ''Gil has a great amount of swag out there. Once he took that shot, you definitely saw it.''
Arenas is averaging 36 points in his last nine games. The Wizards are 15-1 when he scores 30 or more. He is third in the league in scoring and is closing in on leaders Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, yet he's third in the All-Star balloting among Eastern Conference guards behind Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter.
Arenas' teammates are beside themselves that he's still known more for being an oddball which he is than for being one of the game's best.
''The guy's been playing like this all year. Of late, the last month or so, it's been unbelievable,'' Jamison said. ''I've never been a part of a team where a guy's been performing the way he's been performing.''
After the game, Arenas was his usual colorful self while describing the shot. He claimed to be 8-for-8 from 35 feet or so this season.
''I don't know why this is a surprise to you guys now,'' he said.
But Arenas also showed himself to be a true student of the game as he talked about receiving the ball in the backcourt from Jamison, who had just grabbed a rebound, with the score tied and six seconds left. Arenas said his mind flashed to the Chicago-Phoenix game on Tuesday, when Leandro Barbosa answered Ben Gordon and hit a game-winner for the Suns.
''Ben Gordon hit the 2 and left some time on the clock, and Barbosa hit the 3,'' Arenas said. ''That starts running through your head, and that's the reason you go for the gusto.''
But Arenas pulled up at 32 feet. Why so far away? He had time to take one more dribble, especially with Charlie Bell and the Bucks backing up.
''I was looking at their feet,'' Arenas said. ''They were still in retreat mode so I decide, 'OK, this was the best time' instead of getting to that danger where something stupid could happen. I go in there, I lose the ball, they've got three seconds to come back, and anything can happen from there, so the best thing to do is pull up.''
Besides, Arenas practices shots from that distance all the time, although he said he was at the extent of his range because it was his first game of the season with the leather basketball, which replaced the synthetic balls on New Year's Day.
''It feels like a medicine ball now,'' he said. ''It's here. We have to deal with it. I really can't complain. I hit a nice little shot at the end.''
Arenas is turning 25 on Saturday and will have huge, star-studded birthday party at a nightclub after Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
So, next came the obvious question: Was the game-winning shot an early birthday present for himself?
''No,'' Arenas said. ''We got one more game.''

Shoot the ball for the kids

2006-12-27T19:38:00.000+01:00

Gilbert Arenas is donating $100 to local schools for every point he scores during home games.Tuesday night it was Arlington's Drew Model School's turn. It was thier turn to stand up and cheer everytime the ball left the hands of the Washington Wizards' star player. Before the season tipped off, the high scoring Wizard selected 41 different schools across our region that would benefit from Gilbert Arenas' Scores for Schools program. Before each of the 41 Wizard home games, a school is selected. At the end of each game the school is sent 100 dollars for each point Arenas scores.Arenas scored 31 points in the Wizards win against Memphis Tuesday night. Translation: Drew Model School in Arlington raked in $3,100, and all because of Gilbert Arenas' sweet shot and generosity.Arenas covers the cost of home games while Wizards owner Abe Polin picks up the tab when the team is on the road. Between the both of them, they've handed over a combined $84,000 to 27 different local schools so far this season.

GO GILBO!!!

Gilbert Arenas Arizona University stats

2006-12-26T20:58:00.000+01:00

MIN FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG TPG BPG SPG PPG
99-00 Arizona 32.1 45.3 29.2 75.0 4.1 2.1 2.6 0.3 2.1 15.4
00-01 Arizona 29.0 47.9 41.6 72.4 3.6 2.3 2.8 0.2 1.8 16.2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS 30.5 46.6 36.1 73.8 3.8 2.2 2.7 0.2 1.9 15.8

Gilbo scores 54 to end Suns' streak

2006-12-23T11:21:00.000+01:00

Another great night, another +50!

The Phoenix Suns went from snowed in to snowed under by Gilbert Arenas. And their franchise-best 15-game winning streak is history.
Arenas capped a 54-point night by banking in a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 30.7 seconds left in overtime and the Wizards beat the Suns 144-139 on Friday night.
It was the second-most points ever scored against Phoenix. Only Wilt Chamberlain scored more, 66 for the Lakers in February 1969 in the Suns' first season.
Steve Nash matched his career high with 42 points and had 12 assists, and Shawn Marion added 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who rallied from 15 points down in the second half to send the game into overtime.

But Caron Butler scored 10 of his 34 - one shy of his career best - in the extra session to help Washington to its eighth victory in 10 games.
The Suns arrived a little over two hours before tipoff after being snowed in for two nights in Denver, and couldn't quite overcome an offensive onslaught by Arenas that brought an end to the NBA's longest winning streak in seven seasons.
Arenas started the Wizards' four-game western trip with a career-high 60 points against the Lakers and wrapped it up with his second-best career output.
He converted a three-point play after he was fouled on a running one-handed 9-foot bank shot to tie it at 127 with 20.9 seconds to play in regulation. Nash missed a 3-pointer, then Marion and Amare Stoudemire missed rebound attempts and the game went into overtime.
Arenas, admittedly carrying a grudge after being cut from the U.S. team for this year's world championships, pounded his chest and appeared to stare into the stands at Jerry Colangelo several times after making big plays. Colangelo, the Suns' chairman and ex-owner, is the head of USA Basketball.
However, after the game, Arenas insisted he didn't even know Colangelo was in the building.
In a game that resembled the Suns' 161-157 double-overtime thriller at New Jersey on Dec. 7, Arenas was 21-of-37 from the field, 6-of-12 on 3-pointers.

Gilbert Arenas tattoo

2006-12-21T23:21:00.000+01:00

We all like tatoos, don't we?! Well, I do! Before you see the picture you must read this! :) I like Chinese symbols tattoo! And I would like them on my neck and my shoulder. Of course, these are the most common places for them, but what can I say... I like simple things.
"Only because you have a tattoo doesn't mean you're tough" :-D
I can't find picture of his tattoos. Please, if you have the pictures, or if you know where can I find them, let me know (leave your e-mail in COMMENTS or just put the link). Thank you

Gilbrt Arenas Adidas shoes

2006-12-21T23:06:00.000+01:00

Read this article from february:

Just days after Gilbert Arenas covered up the name and parts of the adidas logo on the shoes he wore during Sunday's All-Star Game, the Washington Wizards forward pleaded with the shoe company to guarantee him more attention.
Arenas
"When I first signed my deal, they said if I made the All-Star Game in the first three years, we could rip up this contract and sign a new one," Arenas told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "Well, I made it last year and they blew me off, and nothing has happened this year either. All I want is to get my face out there. If I'm the last person on the totem pole, just tell me I'm not in your future -- don't keep my hopes and dreams up."
The contract of Arenas, who was nominated by NBA commissioner David Stern to replace Jermaine O'Neal in the game, commenced in Dec. 2003 and runs for another two years. Last December, Arenas appeared in advertising for the company's Gameday Lightning shoe but shared the spotlight with Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups and Portland Trail Blazers guard Sebastian Telfair.
"It's not about the money," said Arenas, who covered up one of the company's trademarked three stripes and the adidas name on the tongue and the back of the shoes he wore. "I want to be in their advertising, have a commercial, be in a print campaign. I'll even pay for the commercial to be made."
Arenas said that he was supposed to have a meeting with adidas officials, but they didn't show up. Adidas spokesman Travis Gonzolez told ESPN.com that a meeting did take place in Houston on Friday with Arenas' agent Dan Fegan, but the player was not in attendance. Calls placed to Fegan were not immediately returned.
In October, Reebok dumped Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall after he wore Nike shoes during a Monday Night Football game. There is usually a standard clause in endorsement contracts that prohibits endorsers from using a competitor's brand in public or from making disparaging remarks.
"If they terminate me, I won't have a problem with that," said Arenas, who has became a fan favorite, in part because of the fact that he tosses off his game-used jersey after every game and throws it into the stands. "I'll pay them the money they owe me and the money they just gave me. Just let me out clean, don't hold anything against me and let's pretend like we didn't even know each other."
Arenas said that he didn't think that other adidas basketball endorsers - including Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady - were taking him out of the spotlight. He said that the message he has been getting is that adidas is devoting most of its financial resources towards soccer. Adidas is an official sponsor of the World Cup, which takes place in Germany, where the company is based.
Gonzolez said that the company - which recently acquired former competitor Reebok - is devoted to basketball as well as Arenas.
"We have been happy with our relationship with Gilbert," Gonzolez said. "And we want to figure out how we can move forward from this."
Gonzolez said that plans call for Arenas to endorse a shoe called the Piranha next fall and a signature shoe, tentatively called the Zero, will hit stores in December.
Arenas wears the number zero because he says that's how many minutes his critics said he would get when he arrived on campus at the University of Arizona. Arenas became one of only six U of A players to top 1,000 points in two seasons. The 24-year-old is averaging 28.3 points and 5.9 assists per game this season

The shoes he wore on 2005 Allstar Skills Challenge:

Gil Zero Low:

I must say I don't like them very much...

Gilbert Arenas picture, photo and wallpaper

2006-12-21T23:01:00.000+01:00

I think the best way is to just give you links to best galleries...
So, here they are:

http://wizznutzz.com/gilbert_pix.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3540/photos
http://www.aahceleb.com/pics/gilbert_arenas.html

Of course, there are more, but there is no point in continuing :)

Gilbert Arenas scores 60 against Lakers

2006-12-18T22:58:00.000+01:00

Whoah... 60pts 8rebs 8 assists! He destroyed Kobe who jelaously said that he is not overly impressed by his game because of his 27 free throws. Well, Kobe, you could maybe try to play defense on him next time :)

Gilbert Arenas got on quite a roll, putting up the most points in franchise history and more than anybody, except Wilt Chamberlain, has scored against the Lakers. In a Kobe-like performance, Arenas had 60 points and outscored Los Angeles' Bryant by 15 Sunday night in the Washington Wizards' 147-141 overtime victory. Arenas had 16 points in the 5-minute extra period, including14 in a row for the Wizards during one stretch.
His scoring total was the most against the Lakers in 40 years. Chamberlain, who played for the Warriors in Philadelphia and San Francisco and then for the 76ers before joining the Lakers, scored 60 or more points against them multiple times, the last a 65-point outing in 1966. Arenas went 17-of-32 from the floor, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range. He made 21 of his 27 free throws and had eight assists and eight rebounds. Forty-three of his points came after halftime. The previous franchise high was 56 by Earl Monroe on Feb. 13, 1968 -- also against the Lakers in overtime - when the Wizards were the Baltimore Bullets. "It was bound to happen," Arenas said. "I'm a scorer, so I was going to have one of those days where I was clicking. Most of the time when I've scored 46 in three quarters, we were blowing the other team out, so I didn't get to play in the fourth. "But tonight was that time. It was a close game and I stayed in. I found the rhythm, especially in the fourth quarter and in overtime, and I never looked back." Arenas' previous high was 47 points, against Miami last Dec. 30. Asked how the Wizards' guard scored so many, Bryant said, "First of all, he shot 27 free throws. We as a team shot 30. Think about that." Washington shot 60 free throws and made 47. Bryant added, "Some of the shots he took tonight, you miss those, they're just terrible shots, just awful. You make them and they're unbelievable shots." Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Arenas was spectacular. "He made a lot of different shots, drives, 3-pointers, and still had that energy left to finish that game off," Jackson said.

Just follow the link...

2006-12-17T13:47:00.000+01:00

"Gilbert Arenas is a killer on the court, fueled by strength, skill, and a desire to prove all doubters wrong. Now the Wizards superstar is gunning for an NBA championship.
Gilbert Arenas doesn’t remember the day when his father came to get him. “I was only three,” he says.
Gilbert was born in Florida, where his great-grandfather had come a century earlier from Cuba. His father was a college student in Miami, his mother a teenager. They weren’t married, and when their relationship soured, his mother left with baby Gilbert in her arms. He was six months old." (...)
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/sports/2268.html

Gilbert Arenas trivia

2006-12-17T13:40:00.000+01:00

Gilbert Arenas wears the number 0 on his jersey because that is how many minutes his critics said he would play for his college team, the University of Arizona.
His paternal great-grandfather was originally from Cuba.
He also collects jerseys of players, and has over 200.
Gilbert mentors a D.C. boy who lost his family in a fire at age 10. He takes him shopping, bowling, and acts as brotherly figure toward the boy.
Arenas wears size 13 sneakers on the court even though his feet are size 14½.
Gilbert officially owns Team Final Boss, a professional Halo 2 team.

"Gilbertizology"

2006-12-17T13:37:00.000+01:00

When shooting free throws, Arenas is known to spin the ball around his waist and dribble the ball three times before shooting to help him be more relaxed at the foul line.
In the Greater Washington area "Gilbertology" is the name given to his often bizarre behavior on and off the court, first coined by Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan. While with the Warriors, he once took a shower at half time in full uniform . Before every game he would take a teammate's jersey and hide it in the locker room to make them look for it. Also, Arenas can often be seen playing online poker during half-time of games, instead of resting or preparing for the second half. Gilbert Arenas disputes the accuracy of the story, saying he was misquoted. Arenas says he does not play for money nor does he play online; instead, he plays on a DVD game of poker.
At the end of each game, regardless of whether it at home or on the road, Arenas takes off his jersey and tosses it to the crowd. He originally tossed his shoes into the crowd, explaining that jerseys were too expensive for him to pay for every game. After he signed a lucrative new deal with Washington, he began to throw his jerseys out. Gilbert agreed to become a team captain for the 2005-06 season after declining the previous year because he said that many times he didn't even believe the things he was saying to his teammates. He has recently been given the nickname "The Black President", and calls himself the "East Coast Assassin", in reference to his quest to prove his abilities to those who did not vote for him to be a 2006 Eastern All Star reserve.
In October 2006, an ESPN.com story stated that Arenas was converting his Washington, D.C. home to simulate high-altitude conditions, stating that he hoped the arrangement would help him have more energy, especially late in games.
At the Wizards' first home game on November 4, during the introductions, Arenas came out wearing a blue robe with a hood, looking like a boxer. He was supposed to resemble a "wizard."
During the 2006 NBA season, he began to shout the word hibachi as he took field goal attempts in games, explaining, "You know, a hibachi grill gets real hot. That's what my shot's like, so I've been calling it that: 'Welcome to the hibachi'."

Gilbert Arenas complete biography

2006-12-16T09:55:00.000+01:00

When you play basketball the way Gilbert Arenas does, you deserve a great nickname. So far, nothing has stuck. How about “Triple E”—for Energetic, Emotional and Eccentric. Or “Triple D”—for Downtown, Drive and Dunk. You get the idea. The Washington Wizards’ do-it-all point guard is one of the NBA’s most exciting players, not to mention a truly unique personality. A rare second-round pick who made good, Gilbert has been proving his doubters wrong for as long as anyone can remember. This is his story…

Gilbert Jay Arenas, Jr. was born on January 6, 1982 in Tampa, Florida. His mother, a teenager at the time, was unprepared for parenthood. She tried to raise Gilbert by herself in Miami, but started to hang out with some unsavory types and eventually got in trouble with the police. When the authorities became aware of young Gilbert’s plight, they made arrangements to place him in foster care.
Gilbert Arenas Sr. was working in an auto parts store in Tampa when the call came. As the boy’s natural father, he had rights. Normally, this is just a cursory contact, a formality to clear the child before moving him into a new home. Gilbert Sr. thought about his own childhood, growing up without a father, and decided to do the right thing. He assumed sole custody of his two-year-old son. Gilbert went 20 years before he saw his mother again.Gilbert Sr. had big dreams. A baseball star at Florida Memorial College, he walked on to Howard Schnellenberger’s University of Miami football squad as a fullback in 1980. That was the season freshman quarterback Jim Kelly won the starting job and the Hurricanes won the Peach Bowl. Gilbert Sr.'s sports career ended that year, however, when he injured his leg.

A tall, good-looking man, Gilbert’s father got into modeling, appearing in ads for Sears and JC Penney. He eventually found his way into acting, and appeared in the first two episodes of Miami Vice. When the show became a hit, he decided to leverage his 15 minutes of fame and moved to Los Angeles to further his career. He and his son packed everything they owned into his Mazda RX-7 and headed west.
When they arrived in Hollywood, they discovered the rental market worked a little differently than in Miami. Landlords were looking for $1,000 or more up front, which was more than Gilbert Sr. had saved. The pair spent three nights sleeping in the car in a Burbank parking lot before securing a room at a YMCA.
The first order of business was to find a steady job. Gilbert’s father talked up the manager of a furniture store, who couldn’t help but notice the seven-year-old kid dribbling a basketball between his legs while he waited near the car. Because his new boss was a hoops fanatic, Gilbert Sr. got the job.
Later, Gilbert Sr. landed a night job with UPS. He would work until morning, catch a couple of hours of sleep while his son was in school, and go on auditions in the evenings. He hired an agent, who helped him get bits parts in TV shows, movies and commercials (including high-paying ones for Tostitos and Pepcid AC). Gilbert Sr. was relentless in his pursuit of work, and imaginative, too. Once he got into a softball game with the Days of Our Lives team and and launched several long home runs. Soon he was playing a fireman on the soap.
Having an actor for a father could be interesting. Gilbert once brought a friend home, and his father kept shouting “Kick his ass!” Gilbert had to explain that his father, who was due to shoot a scene the next day in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s, Lionheart, was practicing his one line until he had it down perfectly.
Left to his own devices, Gilbert became the neighborhood pain in the ass, busting windows, keying cars and getting into minor trouble in a major way. He hated to be home alone, and did not know how to unleash his boundless energy. He did well enough in school, and learned how to charm his teachers with a big smile and a sly sense of humor. Still, without an outlet, Gilbert was headed for problems.
Around the age of 11, basketball replaced street football as his number-one outlet. He played after school and, when his father left for the night shift at UPS, he would sneak out and ball it up all night. Before long, Gilbert became a familiar face on the local playgrounds. His father had an inkling of what he was up to, and developed a network of friends in the area who would keep an eye on his son.

When the Arenas men did spend time together, their natural competitiveness came out. They often faced off in take-no-prisoners one-on-one basketball. During one game, Gilbert reached in to knock the ball away from his father, who cracked him on the hand and dislocated his finger. Watch Gilbert now and you will see that he almost never gets whistled for reaching in.
Gilbert Sr. coached a park league team, and since most of the boys were bigger and older than his son, he kept him on the bench. He explained to Gilbert that his goal was to win, not to give him PT. Gilbert quit, joined another team, and dropped 15 on his dad’s squad in their next meeting.
Gilbert also beat his dad at video football. When he explained the controls to his father, he neglected to enlighten him about all of the buttons. Gilbert Sr. found out, became furious and punched his son in the arm. They have never played video games again. Today, they still compete at pool, darts and dominoes.

ON THE RISE
Gilbert enrolled at nearby Birmingham High School and made the junior varsity. He was playing well, having a good time, and not taking the game too seriously when the varsity coach cornered him to let him know he had reached his ceiling as a player.
That summer, Gilbert got up with the sun each morning and practiced until the other players began showing up for games. He usually stayed at the court past dinner. In the fall, he transferred to Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys, a long bus ride away. It was worth it. The Lancers had a decent basketball team, though it was not a large school and its schedule included a couple of powder puff teams. Being young for his class at 14 and standing just 5-9, Gilbert did not yet have the look of a hoops superstar, but it took little time for him to show off his skills. He earned a starting role on coach Howard Levine’s varsity as a sophomore and within a month he blossomed into the best player in the league.
With a growing repertoire of slick one-on-one moves, Gilbert toyed with defenders. He could penetrate and score, or pull up and hit from downtown. He was an adept passer, aggressive rebounder, and a defensive demon who could strip enemy dribblers or hammer balls back in a shooter’s face.
The game may have come naturally to Gilbert, but he was always practicing, always working on something new. He would often sneak back into his old elementary school and shoot for hours in the deserted gym. Gilbert was voted 1997 Valley Pac-8 Player of the Year as a sophomore, as well as Los Angeles All-City. He would earn these dual honors twice more, as a junior and senior.
After Gilbert’s junior year, during which he averaged just under 30 points, he applied to a math and science magnet school in Sylmar and joined that school’s summer league team. Now standing 6-3, Gilbert made the move to increase his level of competition. Sylmar played teams from Compton and Dominguez in the southern part of LA. Fearing he would lose his star, Levine hoped to convince Gilbert to stay at Grant. In the end, though he was accepted at Sylmar, Gilbert returned for his final season with the Lancers. (He would lead Grant to a share of the league title, while Sylmar went on to win the LA 3-A championship.)
At the start of Gilbert’s senior year, he wandered over to the UCLA campus and talked to the coaches. He and his dad had long dreamed of wearing a Bruins uniform. The school had shown some interest in him, and he wanted to more clarification. The deal, the Bruins told him, was that they were waiting to hear from Carlos Boozer (who eventually chose Duke). UCLA was also worried about Gilbert's attitude, believing he had run up the score on so-so opponents on the Grant schedule. His academic record was a concern as well. Ultimately, the Bruins would regret this decision. They had all sorts of trouble at shooting guard the next two years, while Gilbert torched them whenever he met them in the Pac-10.
Meanwhile, Gilbert also received solid offers from DePaul, Kansas State and Arizona. With Wildcat assistant Ray Tention hot on his trail, he chose to stay out west. He committed to Arizona and Lute Olson prior to his senior season, when he was still only 16-years-old.
And what a season it was. Gilbert put up huge numbers, averaging 33.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.6 stealse. After finishing his career at Grant with more than 2,000 points, he was being called the best scorer ever in the San Fernando Valley. Olson had himself a real star.

The Wildcats, rebuilding after losing Michael Dickerson, Mike Bibby and Miles Simon to the NBA a couple of years earlier, had used their past success to bring in some wonderful players. Indded, Gilbert joined one of the most talent-laden teams in school history, with Jason Gardner, Richard Jefferson, Loren Woods, Luke Walton and Michael Wright. The starter at two-guard was Ruben Douglas, and Gilbert was asked to red shirt for a year. But since he had once torched Douglas for 49 points in a high school game, he didn’t think much of the plan.
During Arizona’s informal summer games, Gilbert took nothing but pull-up jumpers. When real practices began, however, he pump-faked Douglas out of his jock. Gilbert had publicly stated that he hoped to start by the mid-point of his freshman year, and it was immediately clear that he would make good on this boast. (Douglas transferred to New Mexico a few weeks later, and topped the nation in scoring one season there.)
In Gilbert's debut in a Wildcat uniform, for the Blue team in the Pepsi Red-Blue pre-season scrimmage, he scored 22 points and hauled down five offensive rebounds in front of a raucous student crowd. A couple of weeks later, he was voted MVP of the pre-season NIT after pumping in 20 and registering five steals against Kentucky in the championship game.
Gilbert's major adjustment to Division I competition was learning what to do without the ball. At Grant, he always had the rock, or was always about to get it. Working off screens and getting himself open for good looks at the basket was a tough transition. When he got the ball, however, he knew what to do with it. In his first game against UCLA, Gilbert victimized the Bruins for 20 points. Days later, he was named Pac-10 Player of the Week.
Off the court, Gilbert found an interesting role with the Wildcats: class clown. He kept his teammates loose, and tried to crack them up when the super-serious Olson had his back turned. It wasn’t that Gilbert did not like or respect his coach; he simply thought he could be too demanding and inflexible. Olson discouraged his freshman from showboating, insisting he show class at all times.
Olson’s wife, Bobbi, was just the opposite. The unofficial team mother, she went out of her way to make Gilbert feel at home. Coupled with the free and easy lifestyle of the Arizona campus, freshman year was as close to perfect as he could imagine.
Gilbert was an excellent fit for Arizona’s up-tempo style, and he came up big at both ends game after game. He scored 15.4 points per game during his freshman year on 45.3% shooting from the field. He was also a terror on defense, averaging two steals a contest.
Arizona entered the NCAA Tournament as a #1 seed, but the team was beat up from hard regular season. Jefferson was coming back from a stress fracture in his foot, and was not yet playing at full speed. Woods, the key man in the middle, was sidelined by an aching back.
In their opener, the Wildcats appeared tight against Jackson State, and only led by eight points at intermission. They found their stroke in the second half, pulling away for a 71-47 win. Next up was a dangerous Wisconsin squad, which specialized in slowing down teams like Arizona. This they did, building a double-digit lead and thwarting every comeback attempt the Wildcats could muster. Gilbert was high man with 21 points, but Arizona lost 66-59. It was small consolation that the badgers continued to roll all the way to the Final Four.
Despite Arizona's early exit, the 2000-01 preseason polls had the Wildcats ranked among the best in the nation. Some believed they were Final Four material. Privately, the players thought they could go undefeated. Then the news about Bobbi Olson came—she was dying of cancer. The coach was devastated, as were his players. Her illness was kept out of the papers, but the team got off to a terrible start. Everyone around basketball knew something was wrong. Bobbi died on New Year’s Day.
Gilbert and his teammates chose to honor her memory by dedicating their season to her. Energized and inspired, they won 20 of their next 23 games. Gilbert was fantastic, burning opponents off the dribble and extending his range well past the the 3-point line. For the year, he upped his scoring to 16.5 ppg, and at 42.5% was deadly from beyond the arc. Gilbert also stepped up his defensive effort—though this was a result of being benched by Olson for poor practice habits.

The Wildcats headed into the NCAA Tournament like men on a mission. Gilbert was on fire in the opening game against Eastern Illinois, nailing nine of 13 shots from the field for 21 points in a 101-76 win. Next, Arizona choked off upstart Butler, 73-52, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Gilbert netted 15 in the tilt, along with eight rebounds.
It looked like the championship run would end early against Mississippi, as the Rebels opened an 18-6 lead. But Arizona caught up early in the second half and—led by Woods’s 16 points and 11 rebounds—and the Wildcats cruised to a 66-56 win. In the Midwest Final against Illinois, Gilbert scored 16 of Arizona’s first 24 points, and 18 in all in the first half. He finished with 21, while Gardner hit clutch threes and foul shots in the waning minutes for an 87-81 victory. The Wildcats earned their first trip to the Final Four since their national title in 1997.
In the national semifinal, a win over Michigan State, Gilbert stunned the Spartans with six steals. On one of those thefts, Zach Randolph crashed into his chest. Two days later, when he took the floor against Duke for the championship, Gilbert was still feeling intense pain. That morning, he didn’t think he could get out of bed, much less suit up. But there was no way he was going to miss a shot at the national title.
The Wildcats and Blue Devils tangled in an exciting final, which fans in Carolina remember for the brilliant all-around performance of Shane Battier, and Arizona fans still fume about because of questionable officiating. Duke guard Jason Williams played recklessly throughout the game, initiating contact at both ends of the floor, yet the referees rarely whistled him for fouls. The Blue Devils outlasted the Wildcats, 82-72.
Afterwards, Gilbert decided to enter the NBA draft along with Jefferson, Gardner and Wright. Olson went on record saying he was too young, but Gilbert had tested himself against the best the NCAA had to offer and, to his mind, had proved he would make a top pro.
Was Gilbert ready? Although he led Arizona in scoring, many scouts considered him to be too young, skinny and inexperienced to be an impact player at shooting guard, and too basket-happy to play the point. When Gilbert scanned the talent available in the draft, however, he thought he might go in the lottery. It soon became clear he was wrong.

Gilbert Sr. threw a draft day party for his son in Marina Del Ray. But after 20 picks had passed and his name had not been called, Gilbert went home. He called coach Tention, the coach who had recruited him out of high school. He wanted to know if there was any way he could undo the damage. Could someone call David Stern? Gilbert was panicked and crying—the first time he had shed tears since he was a child. As Tention was trying to calm Gilbert down, they heard some good news: Golden State had taken him in the second round, with the 31st pick overall.
Gilbert collected himself and made the same prediction he had three springs earlier: I’m going to start by mid-season. Then he headed to the gym to workout.
This time it would be a little trickier. Gilbert arrived at training camp slotted behind first-round pick Jason Richardson and backup Bob Sura. Coach Brian Winters was not a fan of underclassmen in the NBA, and promised to keep Gilbert on the pine regardless of the team’s record. The rookie practiced hard, got into a handful of blowouts, learned what he could from watching, and mostly kept his opinions to himself. Besides youngsters Richardson, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison, the Warriors were light on talent, and Winters had a hard time coaxing big efforts out of his players. The result was a dismal 21-win season.
Gilbert stayed sharp in practice. He managed to get a key to the Golden State's facility so he could work on his game at night. He also played a lot of pickup games in the local playgrounds in defiance of his $850,000 contract. Gilbert reasoned that this was the only action he would see where guys came at him ferociously. And they did. Everyone wanted a shot at NBA meat, and Gilbert obliged them.
Still, he sat. When the teams were announced for the Got Milk Rookie Game, Gilbert’s name was nowhere to be found. It frustrated him to watch the contest, mostly because he had destroyed so many of the players in college. Gilbert, in turn, became even more determined to be ready when his chance finally came. (Gilbert suited up for the sophomore squad the following year and was named MVP).

With Hughes struggling at the point and the playoffs out of range, Winters asked Gilbert if he would like to try his hand running the offense. He had never been interested in playing point guard, but minutes were minutes, and he had seen precious few to that point.
Learning on the job, Gilbert dished out 3.7 assists and scored over 10 points a game the rest of the way. It wasn’t always pretty. When in doubt, Gilbert just turned on the jets and outran his defenders. Sometimes he raced into traps, but at other times he created great opportunities for his teammates. When all was said and done, Gilbert finished fourth in scoring and third in assists and steals among NBA rookies—despite starting just 30 games. In those starts he averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 assists.
During a trip to Miami for a game against the Heat during his rookie year, Gilbert finally met his mother again. He had imagined an emotional reunion, but when she introduced herself neither knew what to do or say. He has not seen her since.
Over the summer, the Warriors unloaded Hughes, Blaylock and Dean Oliver, and drafted Mike Dunleavy instead of Jay Williams—which basically gave the point-guard job to Gilbert. He took a crash course in the position, watching tapes of former Wildcats Mike Bibby and Damon Stoudamire. When the 2002-03 season started, he was not only prepared to run the point, he was expecting to lead the Warriorsto victory every game. But, as Gilbert discovered, this is not how things work in Golden State, and it drove him crazy.
With the offense now in his hands, Gilbert was very serious about his job. Happy-go-lucky off the court, he became increasingly frustrated. The Warriors lost 44 games in '02-03, and a lot were decided by the end of the second quarter. Gilbert unleashed his anger at officials, racking up a lot of Ts, but he held his tongue with teammates—though sometimes he had to take halftime showers (in full uniform) to cool off. Gilbert also smashed his share of clipboards and threw his share of chairs. Richardson nicknamed him “Baby Ron Artest.”
Gilbert appeared in all 82 contests for the Warriors and finished with excellent numbers, including 18.3 points per game and 6.3 assists. He logged nearly 3,000 minutes, and answered any questions about whether he could be a productive NBA player. At season’s end, he was voted the the leauge’s Most Improved Player, beating out fellow points Chauncey Billups and Tony Parker.
Gilbert’s emergence thrilled Golden State fans—until it exposed an interesting loophole in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. Because he was a second-round pick, Gilbert was not only eligible for early-bird free agency, but the Warriors were not allowed to offer him more than the average salary of $4.6 million to stay in a Golden State uniform. In order to keep Gilbert, the team would have had to gut its roster. The Bay Area faithful went crazy when they found out they were likely to lose Gilbert. Many launched web sites supporting him and urging the Warriors to find a way to keep him.
Ultimately, however, it was Washington that put the best deal on the table—six years at $65 million. Having closed the books on the Michael Jordan era, the team’s new coach, Eddie Jordan, and new GM, Ernie Grunfeld, wanted to rebuild around a nucleus of exciting young talent. Already in the fold were Hughes and Kwame Brown, the top pick in the 2001 draft. Jerry Stackhouse, recovering from knee surgery, would serve as a veteran presence once he returned to action.
Gilbert blossomed in his new surroundings in the 2003-04 campaign, scoring a triple-double in his forth game as a Wizard. His goal each time down the floor was to get into the paint, and either go to the rim or dish off. He became adept at shooting off pick-and-rolls and screens, and after a couple of months, NBA defenders learned that they were better off laying back and conceding the 20-foot jumper. This is where Gilbert got into a trouble sometimes. A streaky shooter, he rarely passed when he was feeling it, and subsequently took his teammates out of the offense. When the shot wasn’t there, his fellow Wizards did not always move without the ball. Coach Jordan encouraged Gilbert to think about scoring, but reminded him he also had to ignite the offense in other ways.
At season’s end, the Wizards had fallen from 37 wins to 25, but the team’s fortunes were looking up. Hughes stayed relatively healthy and played well, Stackhouse contributed after his February return, and role players Brendan Haywood, Juan Dixon, Etan Thomas and Jarvis Hayes logged valuable minutes. Gilbert led the Wizards in scoring at 19.6 ppg, and reached the 40-point plateau twice. In a game against the Lakers, he equaled the franchise mark with eight three-pointers.

The friendship between Gilbert and Hughes was another important developmen. The NBA’s version of the Odd Couple, the two young stars found plenty of common ground, both on and off the court. Gilbert is the smiling, gregarious guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Hughes is the quiet, serious type, who likes his privacy, his family, and the occasional night out with a rap star.
They say every successful NBA team needs three go-to guys. In Gilbert and Hughes, Washington had two. Prior to the 2004-05 season, Grunfeld picked up a third—another ex-Warrior, Jamison. The Big Three performed as hoped, with Gilbert and Jamison making the All-Star squad, and Hughes leading the league in steals and being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Several players battled injuries, including Hughes, who missed 20 games with a broken finger, and Brown, with a broken foot. But talent and teamwork steadied the boat whenever it reached troubled waters. The Wizards went 45-37 to finish with their best record in 26 years.
Gilbert ended the year averaging 25.5 points, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds a game. With Hughes going for 22 a night, Washington featured the highest-scoring backcourt in the league.
Washington’s #5 seed in the playoffs earned them a shot at the young Chicago Bulls, who ambushed the Wizards in the first two games of the series. Washington came back to knot the series at 2-2, and seemed to have Game 5 locked up when the Bulls made a 10-0 run to even the score 110-110 with fiveseconds left. Gilbert responded with a dramatic buzzer-beater from 14 feet out.
In Game 6, Gilbert was ice cold, shooting just 25% from the floor, but he made the game-turning play on defense. With two minutes left and Chicago up by four, Kirk Hinrich stole the ball from Hughes and drove the other way all alone. Gilbert broke toward his basket as soon as he saw the play developing, and soared through the air to tip Hinrich's shot away. The defensive gem ignited a 7-0 run for Washington, which triumphed 94-91.
Next up came Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Without a solid center, the Wizards were helpless against Shaq, and no one could stop Wade, either. Miami took the first three games easily. In Game 4, the Wizards found themselves on the short end again, down 13 points in the fourth quarter, their season just minutes away from its conclusion. But with one last, great gasp, Washington pulled it together and roared back into the lead—only for a moment, as they ultimately lost 99-95. No one likes to be swept out of the playoffs, but that final run put an exclamation point on a season that the players could be proud of.
For the Wizards to continue their improvement, re-signing Hughes will be a key. So is getting some value for Brown, a restricted free agent who wore out his welcome during the playoffs.

Arenas had a career year during the 2005-06 season in which he averaged 29.3 points, which ranked fourth among the scoring leaders, two steals (also fourth), and 6.1 assists per game. Despite his accomplishments, neither fans nor coaches would select Arenas to the 2006 All-Star Game. He was able to get in due to the injury to Indiana Pacers forward/center Jermaine O'Neal. Since then, he has been averaging 31 ppg on 48 percent shooting, about 2.5 steals per game, and 6.7 assists per game. He was also able to get in to the Three-point Shootout because Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell was excused due to a family illness. Arenas was the runner up to Dirk Nowitzki in the contest .
On February 25, 2006, Arenas scored 46 points in less than 30 minutes, setting the NBA record for the most points scored in 30 minutes or fewer of playing time since the 24-second shot clock was implemented in 1954. He put up twelve 40-point games and forty three 30-point games in the 2005-2006 NBA Season.
During the offseason, Arenas said that he was willing to take a pay cut in order to give the Wizards additional money with which to sign available free agents. He has expressed a desire to win a championship with Washington.

As for Gilbert’s nickname, how about “Triple C”—competitive, charismatic and combustible. Or maybe it’s better to keep things simple. After his breakout '04-05 season, he has earned the right to be called just plain “Gil the Thrill.”

Very few NBA stars can legitimately boast Gilbert's combination of skills. He has excellent range on his jumper, can nail the mid-range pull-up and can dunk over most players in the league. As a point guard, his penetrate-and-pass style works well with slashers like Antawn Jamison and Larry Hughes. Because Hughes can also handle the ball, Washington opponents must be wary of the two switching roles, with Hughes driving and Gilbert cutting to the basket or waiting on the wing for the ball to be kicked out to him.
Gilbert is a relentless attacker. Whether he is hot or cold, he comes at you the same way. Unafraid of fellow guards, he instead studies the defensive tendencies of the forwards and centers he is likely to encounter after shaking off his primary defender. He jumps into the shot blockers and pulls up against the wide-body defenders, ensuring him either of a trip to the foul line or an open look at the rim.
Gilbert is a smart defender who is conscious of beating his man to a spot, and he rarely reaches in to pick up cheap fouls. Most of his steals come from playing the passing lanes. He has also become adept at slapping the ball away from big men when they put it on the floor.
Gilbert is a student of the game. He attended the 2004 playoffs with Eddie Jordan and they watched how Jason Kidd orchestrated the New jersey offense—the same Princeton offense the Wizards run. Gilbert learned enough to cut his turnovers from more than four per game to less than three in one season. His dedication to improve also extended to his personal life. Gilbert has stopped clubbing, choosing to distance himself from the partying that beckons young studs in the NBA. This kind of maturity will be crucial if the Wizards hope to join the league's elite teams.