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Gilbert Arenas’ entry into the NBA was anything but the fairy tale he envisioned when he first picked up a rock on the streets of Tampa, before moving to California and falling irrevocably in love with basketball.
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A late bloomer, he played two highly respectable college seasons at Arizona. Yet despite his high hopes, he fell to the 31st overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, something he would admit years later gave him extra motivation to prove everyone wrong.
It didn’t take long. In fact, by his second season with the Golden State Warriors, he showcased the full extent of his talent. This earned him a massive offer: the Washington Wizards extended a six-year, $60 million contract, making him the face of the franchise at just 21 years old.
As he admits, that kind of money quickly turned him into a persona non grata among his teammates.
“If you don’t make five million dollars, do not talk to me directly. I am a superstar now. Talk to someone who makes five million; if they make five million, then they can relay the message,” Arenas recently stated.
Arenas became hated by his own teammates
Still, Agent Zero had a serious game to back up his attitude. It didn’t take long for him to become one of the best players in the league. Over a three-season stretch, he averaged 26.2 points, 5.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, missing just 12 games along the way.
He brought that same elite energy to the playoffs, bringing the Wizards back into relevance after a long period of mediocrity. In front of the eyes of the fans and his teammates, he evolved into a full-fledged superstar who drew gasps both on and off the court.
All of this led to an even bigger, more lucrative contract. Arenas signed a six-year, $111 million contract with the Wizards and became one of the main models for Adidas. But one critical piece was missing to complete the puzzle.
Over the years, Arenas became hated by his own teammates. Many felt immense pressure because of his attitude, as he frequently humiliated them, until one day his arrogant behavior became the final straw for the unfortunate Javaris Crittenton.
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The story is widely known and was recently revived in Netflix’s hit documentary “Untold: Shooting Guards.” An argument escalated to guns being drawn in the locker room, leading to Arenas’ suspension. Paired with brutal injuries, fans watched a great career come to an abruptly premature end in real time.
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A brilliant individual talent, but unfortunately, only that
Years later, Arenas realized how immature he had been and addressed how the gun incident had almost ruined his career.
“I was 28, 29, so I was an adult, so I was stupid. I was stupid. I [should ‘ve] known better,” Arenas mentioned in his latest appearance on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast.
Known for an electrifying playstyle that kept fans glued to their TV screens throughout the 2000s, Arenas unfortunately possessed a darker side to his character that ultimately pulled his focus away from the main thing: the game.
That lack of respect for his teammates was the reason he ultimately failed to achieve significant team success in his career. In the end, for him and all true basketball purists, Gil will forever be remembered as a brilliant individual talent, but unfortunately, only that.
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This story was originally published August 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM.