American · Los Angeles, California · Born 6 January 1982Agent Zero — one of the most explosively talented scorers of his era whose career was derailed by off-court issues.
Gilbert Jay Arenas was born in Los Angeles, California in 1982. He went undrafted in 2001 and was signed as a free agent by Golden State. He developed into an elite scorer at Washington, winning the Most Improved Player award in 2003. He was selected to three All-Star games. He signed one of the largest contracts in NBA history at the time — six years, $111 million — in 2008 based on performances that saw him average 29.3 points in 2005-06 and score 60 points in a single game. His career was derailed in December 2009 when he and teammate Javaris Crittenton brought guns into the Wizards locker room in a dispute over a card game debt — Arenas was suspended for the remainder of the season and pleaded guilty to a felony weapons charge. He never returned to anything approaching his peak form. His career average of 20.0 points per game across eight full seasons represents the output of a genuine elite player. His nickname Agent Zero came from wearing number zero and from being largely overlooked entering the league.
Explosive scoring, clutch performances, and controversial career
How They Played
Athletic shooting guard/point guard with exceptional scoring ability
Lasting Impact
Dynamic scorer whose career was derailed by injuries and off-court issues
Career Honours
- All-Star 3x
- All-NBA Second Team
- Most Improved Player
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | 2001–2003 | 164 |
| Washington Wizards | 2003–2010 | 374 |
| Orlando Magic | 2010–2011 | 49 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2012–2012 | 2 |
| Shanghai Sharks | 2012–2013 | — |
American Athletes