Why anybody listens to former Memphis Grizzlies guard Gilbert Arenas is past me. He might be an entertaining hear if he had the self-awareness to appreciate the place the boundaries of his humorousness are. Or he might regale his listeners with tales of what it was wish to share the ground with former Defensive Participant of the 12 months Marc Gasol or what it was like studying Chinese language throughout his ultimate season {of professional} basketball.
In his 20s, he was the rogue captain of one of the wayward rosters within the trendy NBA, and in his 40s he’s the voice behind essentially the most uninformed lineup of NBA podcasters. Possibly the remainder of his crew, together with Josiah Johnson, aren’t that unhealthy, however Arenas’ ideas drag down their on-off ranking by persistently airballing takes from exterior his vary.
Anybody who’s watched NBA defenses dissolve underneath the load of guidelines and expertise that favor offenses amid the NBA’s latest scoring surge has gone a bit unhinged in quest of options, however Arenas’ purple hat stage responses to addressing the scoring surge throughout a latest episode of Gils Area was the epitome of why he’s one of many least revered voices in basketball.
“I do know what they’ll do. Do away with all Europeans,” Arenas stated throughout a latest episode.
As if that wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, Arenas doubled down on his rental in Silly City by buying a seaside rental for his commentary.
“You go to varsity to be taught protection. What faculty do Europeans go to? They haven’t any athleticism. They haven’t any velocity, no leaping means. They’re a legal responsibility on protection. They’re 150 Euros within the league as we speak… identify the highest defenders. None! Simply Rudy [Gobert] and the Greek Freak. Apart from that, they’re offensive gamers.”
“The NBA took away aggression,” Arenas stated. “They took away aggression to open up the EuroLeague. After they first began getting right here, it was too tough for them. They didn’t make it. Finally, they softened the principles. They didn’t soften the principles for the Individuals. They softened the principles to open up worldwide.”
“So after they say the euros are going to run the league within the subsequent 5 years, why do you assume that? Extra threes, passing, slicing — this isn’t our league, this isn’t the American model, that is the Euro model. Drive in, suck the protection in, go the ball to the three-point line.”
Keep in mind JJ Reddick’s polemic explaining how basketball discuss will get drowned out by ridiculous sizzling take artists? Arenas is the metonym for that ignorance. Not solely did he skip over James Harden and the Warriors dynasty’s affect, this 13-year-pro and former All-Star simply stated with a straight face that you just go to varsity to learn to play protection. Anecdotal proof says in any other case. Gamers who got here straight from highschool have been winners of the final six Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards throughout the abbreviated preps-to-pros period. Then, Marc Gasol turned the primary European to win it in 2013. Rudy Gobert is about to win his fourth and shortly he’ll seemingly cede his throne to Victor Wembanyama. The league softened the principles when the scores have been being held within the low 80s and 90s. The three-point growth was a pure evolution which started within the final decade.
The irony of Arenas’ misinformation is that he was a detrimental defender recognized for half-assed defensive effort, and one of many unique 3-point chuckers within the league throughout his prime. He was a quantity shooter as a professional and as a podcaster.
Agent Zero was the very definition of a Euro-style guard. Throughout his first yr in D.C., he shot 39 % from the sphere. No person within the league had an even bigger inexperienced gentle than Arenas, however throughout his profession, Arenas was a league common shooter past the arc.
Arenas was the precursor to Damian Lillard and Trae Younger’s taking brand photographs on one finish and enjoying phantom protection on the opposite. His amateurish tackle NBA defenses is the norm not the exception. All the things he says from mocking Giannis Antetokounmpo engaged on his post-game with Hakeem Olajuwon to supporting Draymond Inexperienced slapping Europeans who’re “takin’ the league from our folks,” must be taken with a grain of cyanide. He’s a deeply unserious troll at finest or a xenophobic half wit — or each.
In retirement, Arenas has someway parlayed a historical past of unhealthy takes into a preferred videocast filmed in his basement. Possibly it’s the asbestos down there, however most of the people, if you happen to’re receiving hoops insights from Arenas, your basketball IQ is getting cooked. Whether or not it’s a necessity for consideration or some elite Dunning Kruger Impact at work, Arenas will get loud and mistaken with the worst of them.
Discover DJ Dunson on X: @cerebralsportex
