Gilbert Arenas felt so disrespected on draft day he made a pledge during his press conference: “I’ll be starting by the middle of the season”
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The NBA Draft is a day when a lot of egos get bruised. Players who believe they’re good enough to be a first-round pick often get a reality check when they slip down the draft board. That was the case for Gilbert Arenas in 2001.
Arenas was coming off a sensational sophomore season with the Arizona Wildcats, averaging 16.2 points on 47 percent shooting, including 41 percent from beyond the arc. More to it, he helped lead the Wildcats to the NCAA national championship game, where they lost to the Duke Blue Devils, 82-72. With these accomplishments tucked under his belt, the 6-foot-4 guard truly believed he’d get selected in the first round.
However, it wasn’t meant to be, as Gil slipped down to the second round, getting picked 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors. Rather than sulk at this development, Arenas used the perceived slight as motivation to prove to all those teams that passed on him that they made a huge mistake.
Became emotional on draft day
The man known as “Agent Zero” had high hopes heading to the draft. His confidence was at an all-time high, thanks to his impressive showing for the Wildcats in the NCAA. However, he came away from the event almost beside himself at how the draft played out.
“I remember I was so angry. I was so angry on draft day,” Gil said, recalling the names of the players teams had picked before him. “You're like, who the f**k is you? Where did you go to school? Where did you go to school?”
“You got to remember, I went to the national championship. You, Joe Johnson, I don't know you. Rodney White, who are you? Like, I don't know who none of y'all are, but y'all over here talking about lottery, right?” Gil continued on his rant.
The Washington Wizards selected Kwame Brown as the first overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. While the 2001 draft class included several players who became All-Stars, such as Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Tony Parker, and Zach Randolph, there were also plenty of busts, such as Eddie Griffin, Kirk Haston, and Brandon Armstrong.
Vowed to prove everyone wrong
After the initial anger subsided, Arenas made a solemn vow to prove his worth, surpassing the expectations of most scouts and analysts. He made it clear that he would not succumb to the doubters' negativity and would tirelessly work to prove them wrong.
“At my press conference, I said, I don't care about none of this, man, I'll be starting by the middle of the season,” “Hibachi” declared.
Despite the initial setback, Gilbert started 30 games in his rookie season. He averaged 10.9 points and 3.7 assists per game, showcasing the flair and talent that made him a standout player at Arizona. In his second season, he was named the league’s Most Improved Player after averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game.
Today, Gil is remembered as one of the most exciting and skilled players of his time. His fearlessness on the court and determination to prove doubters wrong made him a fan favorite and solidified his place in NBA history.