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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BVM) – Gilbert Arenas’ bizarre time in the NBA is far from forgotten. Although Arenas’ net worth is a massive $20 million today according to Celebrity Net Worth, it’s hard to forget that he once risked the six-year, $111 million contract he signed in 2008 with the Washington Wizards. Arenas is infamous for bringing guns into the locker room in 2009 after tensions escalated during a card game in which $1,100 was bet.
Arenas’ gun incident from nearly 13 years ago is still the punchline when it comes to disputes between teammates in the NBA today. Here’s a look at why he was trending in October as well as a look at what Arenas is up to today.
Gilbert Arenas’ gun incident
Gilbert Arenas led Arizona to the national championship game in 2001 as a sophom*ore before he was selected 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2001 NBA Draft. Arenas, a.k.a Agent Zero, would go on to record monstrous stats and became one of the most dangerous shooters in the early 2000s.
On Dec. 21, 2009, Arenas infamously brought unloaded guns into the Washington Wizards’ locker room and dared teammate Javaris Crittenton to shoot him. The incident came after arguments erupted from a $1,100 bet from a card game between Wizards teammates JaVale McGee and Crittenton (Arenas was not a part of the bet). Arenas detailed in a 2022 interview for Vlad TV that Crittenton got angry after the card game and started making threats to Arenas. In what was supposed to be a joke, Arenas decided to call out Crittenton’s bluff by bringing guns to the locker room.
All these years later, in early October, Arenas began trending after a video went viral of Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole during a Golden State Warriors practice. Ultimately, Poole was deemed fine, but fans had a heyday joking that Poole was going to show up to the next practice with a gun in hand.
“Did someone call my name?” Arenas wrote in an Instagram post as comments went viral. “Poole got hit that hard, it made me trend.”
Arenas’ gun incident is also constantly brought up when it comes to the fairness of punishments within the NBA. Arenas was only suspended for 50 games after the gun incident. But, Celtics head coach Ime Udoka received a far worse punishment in September when he was suspended for 82 games following a consensual, but improper relationship with a staff member.
Arenas had overwhelming success in his 13-year NBA career in which he made a staggering $163.4 million in salary. He’s still tied for the Washington Wizards’ franchise record for the most points scored in a game – from when he scored 60 against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006. He’s a three-time NBA All-Star (2005–07) who finished his 552-game career with an average of 20.7 points per game. Yet, Arenas will always be remembered as the guy with the guns in the NBA locker room.
Where is Gilbert Arenas now?
The last game Arenas played in the NBA was in Game 7 of the 2012 Western Conference First Round, yet in 2013, he was still one of the highest-paid athletes in the world at No. 30. Today, 40-year-old Arenas is still the GOAT at making money even with a tarnished reputation. His estimated $20 million worth should have other former controversial NBA players like Latrell Sprewell taking some notes.
In 2022, Arenas relaunched his signature “Gil Zero” shoes with Adidas. Back in 2010, following the gun incident, Arenas lost his $40 million sponsorship deal with Adidas. Now, the upgraded Gilbert Arenas shoes are called “Agent Gil” and can be purchased for $150 on the Adidas website.
Shortly after Kobe Bryant’s death, Arenas began coaching basketball because Bryant once told him to. Lebron’s son, Bronny James, is one of the more notable athletes that Arenas has given some pointers to. Also in recent years, Arenas made a comeback as both a captain and coach in Ice Cube’s BIG3 League.
In terms of his family, Arenas has six children and three of them are playing ball like him too. Izela is a Class of 2024 high school basketball player, Alijah is a Class of 2026 basketball player and Hamiley plays middle school basketball.
Arenas makes a lot of his money being a popular voice in the NBA world. He has a show on Fubo TV called “No Chill With Gilbert Arenas,” where he discusses all things basketball. He has his own production company called “No Chill Productions,” and currently does a podcast called “The No Chill Podcast.” He most recently received a heaping amount of criticism for his negative comments on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game.
In his 2022 interview for Vlad TV, Arenas also acknowledged the fact that he was in the weed business, but said, “I’m in the hip business now. I own a farm, 501 acres [with 5 guys].”
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