Gilbert Arenas

1.1. Early life and background

Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr. was born on January 6, 1982, in Tampa, Florida. He was raised in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles, California. Arenas is of Cuban-American and African-American descent; his grandfather, Hippolito Arenas, was a first-generation Cuban American.

1.2. High school career

Arenas attended Ulysses S. Grant High School in the Valley Glen district of Los Angeles. Despite being considered a "late bloomer" and taking the final spot as the 99th nationally ranked player in the class of 1999, his talent was recognized. His jersey number, #25, was later retired by the school in his honor.

Before his freshman year at the University of Arizona, Arenas attended Michael Jordan's basketball camp. During a game, he was chosen to play on Jordan's team and impressed Jordan by scoring eight baskets on his first eight possessions. Following the camp, Jordan reportedly told coach Lute Olson that Arenas deserved significant playing time. Arenas was recruited to Arizona by Rodney Tention during a summer AAU game.

2.1. University of Arizona

Arenas played basketball for the University of Arizona. At 17 years old during his freshman season (1999-2000), he played 34 games, starting 31 of them, and averaged 15.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, playing both shooting guard and point guard. His teammate, Richard Jefferson, would later join him in entering the 2001 NBA draft.

In his sophomore year (2000-01), Arenas was named first-team All-Pac-10. He helped lead Arizona to the national championship game, where they ultimately lost to the Duke Blue Devils, 82-72. Arenas, reportedly dealing with a knee injury, struggled in the championship game, scoring 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting from the field and 4-of-13 from three-point range, while also grabbing 4 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists. This would be his final game with Arizona.

2.2. NBA draft

Shortly after the 2001 NCAA Tournament, Arenas announced his decision to forgo his final two years of college eligibility and enter the 2001 NBA draft. Despite being a key player who led Arizona to the NCAA Tournament runner-up position, and being considered Arizona's best professional prospect by NBA scouts at only 19 years old, Arenas fell to the second round. He was selected with the 31st overall pick by the Golden State Warriors.

Arenas attributed his low draft position, in part, to a rumor spread by Celtics' Jim O'Brien that he was "immature" and "didn't take it seriously" after Arenas skipped the second day of a pre-draft workout to heal his Achilles. He was shocked that his teammate Richard Jefferson was selected ahead of him, despite Jefferson commonly being mocked as a top-10 or late lottery pick. Arenas chose to wear the number 0 on his jersey to symbolize the "zero minutes" that experts predicted he would play in the NBA, serving as a constant reminder of the skepticism he faced as a low-end prospect from a small high school transitioning to a college powerhouse.

3.1. Golden State Warriors (2001-2003)

Arenas made his NBA debut on November 4, 2001, against the Portland Trail Blazers, going scoreless after not playing in his first three games. He scored his first NBA point on a free throw against the Toronto Raptors on November 7, 2001, and his first field goal on January 16, 2002, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 7 points on 3-of-4 shooting. Arenas made his first career start on February 15, 2002, and on February 17, 2002, against the Atlanta Hawks, he recorded his first double-digit scoring game with 12 points, initiating a nine-game streak that included one double-double.

In his rookie season (2001-02), Arenas started 30 of 47 games and averaged 10.9 points per game for the Warriors, who finished last in the Western Conference. In the 2002-03 NBA season, his sophomore year, Arenas significantly improved his performance, averaging 18.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. He was awarded the NBA Most Improved Player Award and named Most Valuable Player of the Rookie-Sophomore game during the NBA All-Star Weekend. Arenas led the charge as Golden State increased its win total to 38, up from 21 the previous season. During a 33-game stretch, he averaged 23.4 points, 5.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 46.7% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range. In March 2003, he had one of his best career performances, scoring 41 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists in a win against the Washington Wizards. After winning the Most Improved Player award, Arenas stated that he believed there wasn't much to improve, only that he needed more playing time and experience.

3.2. Washington Wizards (2003-2010)

3.2.1. Transition to Washington and peak years

After the 2002-03 season, Arenas became a restricted free agent. He reportedly flipped a coin to decide between several teams, including the Washington Wizards, Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers. The Washington Wizards offered him a six-year, 63.70 M USD contract, making him the face of the franchise at just 21 years old. The Warriors were unable to match this offer due to being over the NBA salary cap and because Arenas was a second-round pick. This situation led to the creation of the "Gilbert Arenas Rule", which allows teams to re-sign restricted free agents who were not first-round picks.

In his first year with Washington (2003-04), Arenas battled a strained abdominal muscle injury, limiting him to 52 starts. Despite this, he still led the team in points and assists per game. In the 2004-05 NBA season, with Arenas healthy, he teamed with former Warriors teammate Larry Hughes (who averaged 22.0 points per game) to form the NBA's highest-scoring backcourt duo. Arenas was selected for his first NBA All-Star Game. He guided the team to a 45-win season and their first playoff berth since 1997. Arenas led the team in scoring with 25.5 points per game, finishing seventh in the league, and also finished sixth in steals per game with 2.24. In Game 5 of the first round of the 2005 Eastern Conference playoffs, Arenas hit a 16-foot fadeaway at the buzzer to give the Wizards a 112-110 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Wizards eventually won the series, their first playoff series victory in over two decades, before being swept by the top-seeded Miami Heat in the second round.

During the 2005-06 NBA season, Arenas averaged 29.3 points (fourth in the league), 2.0 steals (fourth), and 6.1 assists per game. He was initially not chosen for the 2006 All-Star Game but was named as a replacement for injured Indiana Pacers forward-center Jermaine O'Neal. He also participated in the Three-point Shootout, placing second behind Dirk Nowitzki. The Wizards finished 42-40, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. During the off-season, Arenas expressed his desire to win a championship with the Wizards and stated he was willing to take a pay cut to allow the team to sign free agents. One of his most memorable plays was a 40-foot jump shot in Round 1 of the 2006 NBA playoffs, where the Wizards were eliminated by the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.

In the 2006-07 NBA season, Arenas withdrew from the United States national team for the 2006 FIBA World Championship, stating he felt assistant coaches Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan had predetermined the roster. He then publicly declared his intent to average 50 points against their respective teams (Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers). He achieved this goal against the Suns on December 22, 2006, scoring 54 points, including 21-of-37 from the field and 6-of-12 three-pointers, in a 144-139 Wizards win. However, against the Blazers on February 11, he was held to just nine points, going 0-for-8 from behind the arc, in a 94-73 loss.

On December 17, 2006, in an overtime game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, Arenas scored a career-high 60 points, adding 8 rebounds and 8 assists, leading the Wizards to a 147-141 victory. This set the Wizards' franchise record for points scored in a game by an individual, a record he now shares with Bradley Beal. He also set an NBA record for most points in one overtime period with 16, surpassing Earl Boykins' record.

Arenas continued his clutch performances, hitting a 32-foot buzzer-beater to win the game against the Milwaukee Bucks, 108-105, on January 3, 2007. Two weeks later, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he hit another buzzer-beating three-pointer to defeat the Utah Jazz, 114-111. This scenario was later included as a cut scene in the video game NBA Live 08. He also hit a game-winning layup as time expired to beat the Seattle SuperSonics on March 21, 2007. In February 2007, Arenas was voted as a first-time starter for the 2007 NBA All-Star game for the Eastern Conference, narrowly edging out Vince Carter with 1,454,166 votes to Carter's 1,451,156. At the time, he was averaging 29.7 points per game, leading all Eastern Conference point guards in scoring and ranking second in the league.

3.3. Orlando Magic (2010-2011)

On December 18, 2010, Arenas was traded to the Orlando Magic for Rashard Lewis. In Orlando, Arenas was reunited with former Warriors teammate and draft-mate Jason Richardson. He chose to wear jersey number 1 in honor of his favorite player, Penny Hardaway, and served as the backup point guard to Jameer Nelson. The Magic finished the season 52-30, clinching the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but lost to the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the opening round.

On December 9, 2011, following the end of the 2011 NBA lockout, Arenas became the first NBA player to be waived under the newly established "amnesty clause". He cleared waivers and became a free agent. The 2011-12 NBA season was shortened from 82 to 66 games due to the lockout. In the summer of 2011, Arenas also acted alongside former Wizards teammate Etan Thomas in a dramatic production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder.

3.4. Memphis Grizzlies (2012)

On March 20, 2012, the Memphis Grizzlies signed Arenas. His primary role was once again a backup point guard, this time to Mike Conley Jr.. The Grizzlies finished the season 41-25, securing the fourth seed in the Western Conference. However, they were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Clippers in a full seven-game series. Arenas' final NBA game was played in Game 7 of the 2012 Western Conference First Round on May 13, 2012. Memphis lost 72-82 to the Clippers, with Arenas playing only 3 minutes and recording no statistics. He was 30 years old at the time of his final NBA game.

3.5. Shanghai Sharks (2012-2013)

On November 19, 2012, Arenas signed with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). In his first season in the CBA (2012-13), Arenas played in 14 games, starting 13 of them. He averaged 24.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game in 31.1 minutes per game. Despite his contributions, the Sharks finished the season with a 10-22 record and missed the playoffs.

4.1. Firearms incident and suspension

On December 24, 2009, it was reported that Arenas had admitted to storing unloaded firearms in his locker at Capital One Arena and had surrendered them to team security. This action violated not only NBA rules against bringing firearms into an arena but also D.C. ordinances. On January 1, 2010, further reports emerged that Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton had drawn guns on each other in the Wizards' locker room during a Christmas Eve argument over gambling debts. The D.C. Metropolitan Police and the U.S. Attorney's office launched an investigation. On January 14, 2010, Arenas was charged with carrying a pistol without a license, a felony under Washington, D.C.'s gun-control laws. He pleaded guilty to the felony on January 15.

On January 6, 2010, his 28th birthday, the NBA suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay pending the completion of its investigation. This decision was largely influenced by Arenas' behavior after the investigation began, particularly when he pretended to shoot his teammates with finger guns during pregame introductions before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. NBA Commissioner David Stern stated that Arenas' actions demonstrated he was "not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game" and indicated a lengthy suspension was likely. The Wizards also condemned the pregame stunt as "unacceptable." On January 27, 2010, after meeting with Commissioner Stern, both Arenas and Crittenton were suspended for the remainder of the season. On February 2, 2010, Arenas published an open editorial in The Washington Post, apologizing for his actions, especially for failing to be a better role model and for "making light of a serious situation."

On March 26, 2010, Arenas was convicted for his crimes and sentenced to two years' probation and 30 days in a halfway house. He began his sentence on April 9 and was released on May 7. The punishment for Arenas was notably stricter than that for Crittenton, who received a year of unsupervised probation, or Delonte West, who had been arrested for driving with multiple loaded guns, including a shotgun in a violin case, and received eight months of home detention, two months of unsupervised probation, and forty hours of community service.

Upon his return to the Wizards for the 2010-11 season, Arenas chose to change his jersey number from 0 to 9, aiming to distance himself from the previous season's incident. He had worn #0 throughout his college and NBA career as a constant reminder of the critics who predicted he would play "zero minutes" in the NBA. After the first 24 games of the season, Arenas led the Wizards with an average of 17.3 points per game, but the team had one of the worst win-loss records in the league at 6-18.

4.2. "Gilbertology" and other behaviors

"Gilbertology" is a term coined to describe Gilbert Arenas' unique and often eccentric actions and personality traits both on and off the court. These behaviors included:

• Hiding his teammates' jerseys in the locker room before games.
• Playing internet poker during halftime. Arenas later clarified that it was a DVD software, not actual internet poker, and he was not gambling money.
• Showering in his jersey while playing for the Golden State Warriors.
• Throwing his jersey into the stands after every home game, a practice he started after signing with the Washington Wizards, as jerseys were too expensive to give away frequently during his Warriors tenure.
• His self-proclaimed nicknames, beyond "Agent Zero" and "Hibachi," included "President" and "East Coast Assassin." He would often yell "HIBACHI" when he was playing well.
• After Adidas dropped his sponsorship following the gun incident in 2009, Arenas, instead of signing another endorsement deal, began wearing a different pair of shoes for nearly every game of the 2010-11 season. This collection included various brands, even running shoes and high-end fashion sneakers like 395 USD Dolce & Gabbana shoes, rather than traditional basketball footwear.
• Arenas admitted to running approximately 60 red lights over a four-month period and avoiding traffic tickets by keeping his dealer plates on his vehicle.
• On June 27, 2013, Arenas was arrested by the LAPD for possession of illegal fireworks.

7.1. Family and relationships

Gilbert Arenas has four children with Laura Govan, whom he dated from 2002 until 2014. Arenas met Govan while he was playing for the Warriors and she worked with the Sacramento Kings' public relations department. His son, Alijah Arenas, is a highly-rated 5-star prospect in the class of 2025 and has committed to play for the USC Trojans basketball team. His daughter, Izela Arenas, is the 88th ranked prospect in the class of 2024 and is committed to Louisville. In July 2024, Arenas announced his engagement to French social media influencer Melli Monaco. Gilbert and Melli married on January 20, 2025.

Arenas has two cousins who are professional football players: Javier Arenas, who played for the NFL's Buffalo Bills, and Armando Murillo, who has played in the Canadian Football League.

7.2. Philanthropy and community involvement

During the 2006-07 season, Arenas demonstrated his commitment to community by donating 100 USD for every point he scored in each home game to local D.C.-area schools. This contribution was matched by Wizards team owner Abe Pollin for every away game. He also mentored a D.C. boy who lost his family in a fire at age 10, helping him secure a job as a ball boy for the Wizards.

Arenas has supported PETA's anti-fur mission, posing shirtless for their "Ink, Not Mink" campaign. He is also a collector of sports memorabilia, acquiring a synthetic basketball from each team he played against, and owning over 400 autographed players' jerseys.

Arenas had his own signature shoe line with Adidas, including the Adidas Gil Zero and Adidas TS Lightswitch shoes. He wears size 14.5 shoes.

8.1. Career statistics

8.2. Awards and honors

• 3-time NBA All-Star: 2005, 2006, 2007
• 3-time All-NBA Team:
  • Second Team: 2007
  • Third Team: 2005, 2006
• NBA Most Improved Player Award: 2003
• NBA All-Star Rookie/Sophmore Game MVP: 2003
• NBA regular season leader, minutes played: 2006 (3,384 minutes)
• NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December 2006 (averaged a league-high 34.1 points per game during December)
• 7-time NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week (1-time in 2004-05, 3-time in 2005-06 and 2006-07)
• NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for April 2002
• Cover Player of NBA Live 08
• 2007 Weblog Award for Best Celebrity Blogger
• All-Pac-10 First Team: 2001

8.3. Franchise records

• Career-high 60 points on December 17, 2006, vs. the Los Angeles Lakers (breaking Earl Monroe's franchise record of 56 points on February 13, 1968). This record is now shared with Bradley Beal.
• Most points scored in an overtime period (regular season): 16, set on December 17, 2006 (NBA record).
• Career 50-plus-point games (regular season): 3
• Career 40-plus-point games (regular season): 29 (28 with Washington)
• Career 40-plus-point games (playoffs): 1
• Scored his 10,000th career point on November 6, 2009, making a three-pointer against the Indiana Pacers.
• Held the Washington Wizards franchise record for most three-point field goals made all time with 868.
• Holds the Wizards franchise record for most turnovers in a game (12 against the Miami Heat, November 11, 2009).