Gilbert Arenas got his season started with his usual scoring outburst and an OT-forcing buzzer-beater. He's also taken his outspokenness to a new level in an Sports Illustrated piece by Ian Thomsen.
Arenas talks so much smack in here that I'm still reeling. He says he's "stronger and a better shooter" than Isiah Thomas; tells us that LeBron James is not as good as the Cavs make him look; and insinuates that his ability to get other scorers involved puts him above James or Dwyane Wade.
But Arenas really digs in when it comes to his old nemesis, Kobe Bryant.
"I don't understand that,'' Arenas said. "I don't understand a player like him sometimes."Part of what Gil doesn't understand: How Kobe expects to have a team trade for him and still have anything left. He suggests Bryant lobbying harder for an All-Star sidekick. And Arenas also wants it known that he could play with Kobe, if Bryant cut down his shot attempts. So it's not like this is just mean-spirited nonsense--which, quite honestly, some of the other opinions in here are.
[...]
"I've never seen [Michael Jordan] act like that. I didn't even see AI [Allen Iverson], when he was going through them bad days, you know? They were always talking about trading him, and he was like, 'If they trade me, they trade me; if they don't, they don't; but this is my city.' And I don't understand how Kobe doesn't feel that about L.A. -- it's his city.''
Look, I like Gilbert Arenas as much as anyone in the world. I've always found his bravado entertaining, mostly because it was so absurd and self-aggrandizing. But here, it's gotten so shrill that it's lost all charm. After this, Arenas has got no choice but to buckle down and get on the level of Kobe, Wade or LeBron. Because at this point, he's not. And until he is, calling out those players just makes him look foolish.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-02-2007 @ 4:41PM
da818daddy said...
Gils great, a jealous guy though, its very obvious but I support the San Fernando valleys finest player, go 818...!!kobe is confused,he spoiled,it took mj 6 yrs,kobe needs to wait a couple more yrs.He is still my man though...trade Bynum or Kupchak,,.Big Jay aka Jeremiah, LA 818
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11-02-2007 @ 5:01PM
Kustie the Klown said...
Duh, Arenas has always been (and will always be) a pretty inconsequential NBA player, as far as those things go.
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11-02-2007 @ 8:55PM
ZXE said...
This guy needs to worry about himself.
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11-03-2007 @ 12:18AM
aaron Covington said...
you guys are idiots. gil is speaking the truth here. and he is on bron's and kobe's and wade's level. what are they better then him at? compare stats and dont come back to me with rebounding cuz those guys are taller and should rebound better. And winning? yea he's taken the wizards beyond where they should be. Jamison isn't a leader and a winner so he's not leading them to the playoffs. Caron isn't that dominate either. Gil is the leader there. He's the franchise player.
The only reason Gil isn't perceived as better is cuz his teammates play so well and its like he said about shot attempts. They play faster so it doesn't seem like he's dominating becuase of the shots Butler and Jamison get up.
All i'm saying is give Gil some veterans and watch them make the finals. With Shaq he'd win a title and with the lakers they'd be more fun to watch(see: play faster, get everybody more shots) and Odom would be putting up better numbers and probably playing better overall. Oh and they'd make the playoffs, not just because of Gil but also Phil would be able to get more out of happy team that has guys that would want to play with each other.
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11-03-2007 @ 1:26AM
houchens said...
You pundits all rave about the Lebrons and Kobes and Gils, etc. Of course they are talented, but they also know it and act like it on the court. Self oriented prima donnas!
Give me a team of talented pros who are more interested in winning as a team than making headlines as individual performers.
Like the Detroit Pistons....
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11-03-2007 @ 9:13AM
Trent said...
Come on Gil.."LeBron James is not as good as the Cavs make him look"??? I liked you before you said that...Are you on drugs??? Put LeBron on the Wizards and take away you and the Wizards would be the Champions...The current Cavs with any other player other than LeBron would be the old Cavs. Put you on the Cavs without LeBron and they would be at the bottom of the the Eastern Conference... How did you do on the USA National team?? Oh wait you weren't on it...Let's see if you can get past the LeBron and his Cavs this year...I don't think you will. Maybe you should lobby to come to the Cavs if you want to see how LeBron makes players better...
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11-03-2007 @ 9:20AM
Trent said...
hey Gil....You have a better supporting cast than LeBron and youu guys can't get past the Cavs in the playoffs...I really liked you before you said such nonsense...As much as I don't like what you said...Would you please come to the Cavs..I think we could dominate with you and LeBron together...The Wizes and can Larry back..
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11-03-2007 @ 11:45AM
coach said...
agent zero is still bitter about his being cut of team usa and ignored vis a vis lbj , melo and dwade.move on , gilbert !
on the other hand , animosities bet. competing stars are good for the nba.there's just too much kumbaja , there is no fireworks (bird vs dr.j;bird vs. isiah ; laimbeer vs. everybody etc.)anymore like in the old days.
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11-04-2007 @ 7:49AM
Bruce Broer said...
Agent zero is unfortunately Kobe Bryant without as many skills. A one on one player and you just don't find those guys leading teams anywhere because the teams don't follow.
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11-04-2007 @ 7:50AM
Bruce Broer said...
Agent zero is unfortunately Kobe Bryant without as many skills. A one on one player and you just don't find those guys leading teams anywhere because the teams don't follow.
Reply