Gilbert Arenas

Gilbert Jorge Arenas (born January 6, 1982 in Los Angeles, California) is a professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Washington Wizards.

Related Topics:
January 6 - 1982 - Los Angeles, California - Basketball - NBA - Washington Wizards

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Both a point guard and shooting guard, Arenas previously played for the Golden State Warriors, who drafted him in the second round (31st overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona (The same draft which Kwame Brown, an eventual Wizards teammate, was chosen first overall). Although the Warriors did not enjoy much team success during Gilbert's tenure with them, he quickly established himself as one of the league's bright young talents. In 2003, his second year in the league, Gilbert was selected as the NBA's Most Improved Player. After that season was one of the most sought after free agents of the NBA off season. Gilbert signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards, reportedly after flipping a coin ten times to decide between the Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers. After the coin came up seven times in the Clippers favor, Gilbert knew he had to sign with Washington.

Related Topics:
Point guard - Shooting guard - Golden State Warriors - 2001 NBA Draft - University of Arizona - Kwame Brown - 2003 - Most Improved Player - Washington Wizards - Los Angeles Clippers

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Arenas had a disappointing first season with the Wizards, battling a strained abdominal muscle injury all season. Gilbert enjoyed great success in his second season in Washington. He teamed up with shooting guard Larry Hughes (22.0 points per game) in 2004-05 to give the Wizards the highest scoring backcourt duo in the NBA and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game. He guided the team to a 45-win season and its first playoff berth since 1998. Arenas led the team in scoring with 25.5 ppg, and finished seventh in the league in that category. He also finished sixth in the league in steals per game in 2004-05 with 1.74 (Hughes led the league with 2.89 steals per game).

Related Topics:
Larry Hughes - NBA All-Star Game

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Known for his fierce competitiveness, unmatched work ethic, and somewhat unusual behavior, Arenas quickly became a fan favorite in Washington (An example of his quirky behavior includes during a regular season game, his attempt to make a free-throw by bouncing his shot off the floor, which missed badly and drew confused stares from the entire stadium -- everyone wondering if that was an actual free-throw attempt). In game five of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2005, Gilbert hit a 16-foot fadeaway as time expired to give the Wizards a 112-110 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The loss marked the first time the Bulls had lost at home in the first round in their history.

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Arenas wears the jersey number zero because he was told he would play zero minutes at the University of Arizona, and after every home game, he takes off his jersey and gives it to someone in the crowd.

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