Why anybody listens to former Memphis Grizzlies guard Gilbert Arenas is past me. He could possibly 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 Yr 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 crucial wayward rosters within the fashionable NBA, and in his 40s he’s the voice behind essentially the most uninformed lineup of NBA podcasters. Perhaps the remainder of his crew, together with Josiah Johnson, aren’t that dangerous, however Arenas’ ideas drag down their on-off ranking by persistently airballing takes from outdoors his vary.
Anybody who’s watched NBA defenses dissolve underneath the burden of guidelines and abilities that favor offenses amid the NBA’s current scoring surge has gone a bit unhinged searching for options, however Arenas’ pink hat stage responses to addressing the scoring surge throughout a current episode of Gils Enviornment 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 current episode.
As if that wasn’t dangerous sufficient, Arenas doubled down on his rental in Silly City by buying a seashore rental for his commentary.
“You go to varsity to be taught protection. What school do Europeans go to? They haven’t any athleticism. They haven’t any pace, no leaping capacity. They’re a legal responsibility on protection. They’re 150 Euros within the league in the present day… identify the highest defenders. None! Simply Rudy [Gobert] and the Greek Freak. Aside from that, they’re offensive gamers.”
“The NBA took away aggression,” Arenas stated. “They took away aggression to open up the EuroLeague. Once 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, reducing — this isn’t our league, this isn’t the American type, that is the Euro type. Drive in, suck the protection in, move the ball to the three-point line.”
Bear in mind JJ Reddick’s polemic explaining how basketball discuss will get drowned out by ridiculous scorching take artists? Arenas is the metonym for that ignorance. Not solely did he skip over James Harden and the Warriors dynasty’s influence, 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 Yr awards through 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 probably 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 increase was a pure evolution which started within the final decade.
The irony of Arenas’ misinformation is that he was a unfavourable defender recognized for half-assed defensive effort, and one of many authentic 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 p.c from the sphere. No one within the league had a much 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 emblem pictures on one finish and enjoying phantom protection on the opposite. His amateurish tackle NBA defenses is the norm not the exception. The whole lot 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 individuals,” ought to be taken with a grain of cyanide. He’s a deeply unserious troll at greatest or a xenophobic half wit — or each.
In retirement, Arenas has by some means parlayed a historical past of dangerous takes into a well-liked videocast filmed in his basement. Perhaps it’s the asbestos down there, however most of the people, in the event you’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 improper with the worst of them.
Discover DJ Dunson on X: @cerebralsportex
