Why anybody listens to former Memphis Grizzlies guard Gilbert Arenas is past me. He might be an entertaining pay attention if he had the self-awareness to appreciate the place the bounds of his humorousness are. Or he might regale his listeners with tales of what it was prefer 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 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 dangerous, however Arenas’ ideas drag down their on-off score by persistently airballing takes from exterior his vary.
Anybody who’s watched NBA defenses dissolve beneath the burden of guidelines and abilities that favor offenses amid the NBA’s current scoring surge has gone a bit of unhinged searching for options, however Arenas’ red 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 know what they can do. Get rid of all Europeans,” Arenas said throughout a current episode.
As if that wasn’t dangerous sufficient, Arenas doubled down on his rental in Silly City by buying a seaside apartment for his commentary.
“You go to college to learn defense. What college do Europeans go to? They have no athleticism. They have no speed, no jumping ability. They are a liability on defense. They are 150 Euros in the league today… name the top defenders. None! Just Rudy [Gobert] and the Greek Freak. Other than that, they are offensive players.”
“The NBA took away aggression,” Arenas mentioned. “They took away aggression to open up the EuroLeague. When they first started getting here, it was too rough for them. They didn’t make it. Eventually, they softened the rules. They didn’t soften the rules for the Americans. They softened the rules to open up international.”
“So when they say the euros are going to run the league in the next five years, why do you think that? More threes, passing, cutting — this is not our league, this is not the American style, this is the Euro style. Drive in, suck the defense in, pass the ball to the three-point line.”
Remember JJ Reddick’s polemic explaining how basketball speak 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 impression, this 13-year-pro and former All-Star simply mentioned 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 grew to become 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 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 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 % from the sphere. No person within the league had an even bigger inexperienced mild 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 taking part in 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 people,” needs 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 someway parlayed a historical past of dangerous takes into a well-liked videocast filmed in his basement. Possibly it’s the asbestos down there, however most people, should 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 incorrect with the worst of them.
Discover DJ Dunson on X: @cerebralsportex
