Ex-Warrior Gilbert Arenas rips Zion Williamson; could it be sour grapes?
Heads up, Gilbert Arenas is hoisting some wild shots.
Not on the basketball court. The one-time Most Improved Player for the Golden State Warriors, Agent Zero has been an NBA retiree going on a decade now. But he still reserves the right to launch — whenever, whyever, however.
Same as it ever was.
On his podcast this week, Arenas went off on Duke power forward Zion Williamson. With Duke’s elimination from the NCAA Tournament, it seems a foregone conclusion that the Fab Frosh is headed the NBA Draft as a one-and-done. Even he has said there is “obviously a high chance” he will enter the draft.
Enter Arenas.
“A 6-6 forward, you’re undersized, you’re 285,” Arenas said. “Sounds amazing but in reality if I say, well he’s (Russell) Westbrook’s height and Shaq’s rookie weight, people start saying, ‘Oh, that’s not good.’
“At 6-6, 285, you haven’t posted up at all. You never posted up in high school. When you go to the next level, what position do you play? You have this great phenom player that has no true skill.”
Don’t hold back, tell us what you really think.
You could say there was some push-back on social media.
Charles Barkley is one of the greatest 50 @ 6'6" and he played the PF position. Zion's game resembles Sir Charles's game. He will ne fine in the league.
— Andre Grasty (@CoachGRASTY) March 30, 2019
And another thing Uncle Grumpy:
This analysis sounds like somebody who played in the 2000s. Only PF who even posts up anymore is LA! and since when is 6’7 the same as 6’3?
— Chris BBBurnette (@Chrisburnette68) March 31, 2019
This calls for some two-bit amateur psychoanalysis. Fortunately, the doctor is in.
While with the Warriors, Arenas had a chip on his shoulder. No doubt it was a highly effective motivational tool. But it seemed to color his Warriors experience.
They were excited to see him still on the board at No. 31 in the 2001 draft. He was not at all pleased to have been drafted in the second round. “It might be a little thing to somebody else,” he said, “but you make it a big thing to you. I keep that (draft position in mind) every time I go to sleep, every time I’m working out. I’ll keep it until it can’t take me nowhere else. Then I’ll find something else to be mad at.”
Even after his 18.3-point, 6.3-assist season that ended with the Most Improved trophy, he was still chapped, to the point of being somewhat dismissive of the honor. “I’ve always been good,” he said.
“I’m 21 years old. There are still 30 people who went (in the 2001 draft) in front of me. I even look at this year’s draft. Giving a high school player $25 million? I averaged 34 points in high school and I didn’t even get looked at in college.”
Arizona wasn’t exactly chopped chopped gila monster in Arenas’ one year with the Wildcats. They were the No. 1 team for part the season, posted a record of 28-8, and advanced to the NCAA Championship Game before losing to Duke.
Still, a couple years later he seemed to still be stinging. Could that have colored his recent comments about Williamson, the “It” recruit seemingly destined to be the “It” draft choice?
Or maybe it’s a simple case of Arenas finding himself still obeying his NBA id. You know, “Hoisters gonna hoist.”