The Warriors should show Gilbert Arenas’ recent sitdown interview to their rookie class every year as a lesson in professionalism.
Arenas, 39, shared with VladTV that he spent his entire $845,000 rookie contract before the 2001 NBA Draft — when the Warriors selected the guard with the 31st overall pick. It was the type of reckless spending that earned an entire 30 For 30.
“So I bought an Escalade, had five TVs in it, four (12-inch speakers) — saw Gary Payton with the suede — had the suede on the top, suede roof. I had the big chain just like everybody else (that read) ‘GJA.’ I spent all of that money.”
In fairness to Arenas, he thought his salary would be much more. As a sophomore at Arizona in 2000-01, he was first-team All-Pac 12 and helped lead the Wildcats to the National Championship game, which they lost to Duke. He thought he was going to be picked in the lottery.
But the Draft process — something Arenas still laments — didn’t do the talented guard any favors. Because teams weren’t sure if he was a point guard or shooting guard, he slipped all the way to the second round (the Warriors also selected Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy that year).
Also, Arenas’ background growing up may not have prepared him for the NBA lifestyle. He recalled living with his dad in a Southern California park for a few months when he was seven years old. He also spent some time in the foster care system.
After he blew through all his money before his rookie season began, Arenas lived on a $500 per month budget.
“That’s gas money,” Arenas said. “Girlfriend, two dogs, I didn’t have any money. I couldn’t even drive back and forth to the arena, so I had to stay at the arena sometimes. I slept in the arena. I was basically homeless, but I just couldn’t afford the gas all the time. That helped me because it made me stay in the gym and understand what a professional is.”
As a rookie, Arenas averaged 10.9 points per game for Golden State, which went 21-61. “They were sorry as s***,” he said. After posting 18.3 points and 6.3 assists per game in his second season and earning the NBA Most Improved Player Award, he signed with the Wizards for six years, $60 million.
Arenas learned his financial responsibility and it worked out for him; he earned an estimated $163 million over his 13-year NBA career. Still, nobody wants to live out of their office, and any young player can learn from Arenas’ early missteps.
