Tag: Gilbert Arenas

Minimum GOATs: The best players ever on the NBA’s base salary

At any given time, roughly a third of the league is on veteran or rookie minimum contracts. By and large, these are young and unproven or older and nearly washed players, balancing on a knife’s edge for their NBA careers. Most second-round picks, …

At any given time, roughly a third of the league is on veteran or rookie minimum contracts. By and large, these are young and unproven or older and nearly washed players, balancing on a knife’s edge for their NBA careers. Most second-round picks, for example, end up signing minimum deals, and few stick in the league for too long. But every once in a while, a minimum player makes you sit up and take notice of their play.

Here are the Top 20 players to play on minimum deals. (For this exercise, we’re focusing on players on minimum contracts for full seasons).

Arenas: LeBron James’s big three originally wanted to play for the Knicks

How would things have turned out differently in NBA history had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh gone to the Knicks in 2010?

When LeBron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010 and took Chris Bosh with him, it shattered the NBA’s landscape in more ways than one.

The Miami trio of James, Bosh and Dwyane Wade were immediately hailed by some as the greatest collection of superstar talent in NBA history. Amidst an unprecedented amount of hype and anticipation, the Heat fell hard in the 2011 NBA Finals, only to claim the next two world championships.

The three luminaries were reportedly planning to team up for a few years in advance. However, according to Gilbert Arenas, they were originally looking to join forces on the New York Knicks.

Unfortunately for them, Knicks owner James Dolan made a fatal mistake that torpedoed the team’s chances of landing the three superstars (h/t Heat Nation).

“When Dwyane Wade, Bosh and LeBron decided to team up, they was not playing in someone city so they can all be fresh,” Arenas said of the trio’s intentions to join forces in New York. “So they were planning on going to New York together. And what happened is because they didn’t tell anyone, Dolan made a mistake by paying Amar’e Stoudemire.

“They didn’t want to play with Amar’e Stoudemire because they had they own goddamn Big 3. So, because New York [expletive] it up, they called Micky [Arison] and say, ‘Hey, Micky. This is what we wanna do. Can you make it happen?’ And then made it work — if you knew what was going on then, you would have known New York dropped the ball because of — they offer Mike Miller all that money because they knew Mike Miller was part of the group. Miami stole him. [Udonis] Haslem rejected his deal once he got wind — took the pay cut, signed last to come back. They were all moving together.”

At the time, the Knicks had been laughingstocks for several years. Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing had left in 2000, and since then, they had made the playoffs twice while failing to get past the first round.

Landing James, Bosh and Wade would’ve instantly restored the Knicks’ credibility and dignity. Instead, they would have to struggle for another decade while fans kept calling for Dolan to sell the team.

Luckily, now New York has a very good team with a real soul and identity that seems to have the beginnings of a potential championship contender. But it could’ve recast the basketball world’s spotlight on itself a while back while allowing James to possibly become the toast of the Big Apple.

The daughters of Gilbert Arenas and Zach Randolph will play for Louisville next season and yes, we all feel old

Yes really: Mackenly Randolph and Izela Arenas will play for Jeff Walz in the 2024-25 season.

You remember Gilbert Arenas and Zach Randolph, don’t you? They were stars of the NBA from the mid-2000s and through the early 2010s.

Arenas was a dynamic guard for the Washington Wizards who could score in bunches – once dropping 60 points in a single game – who made three All-NBA teams and was made infamous by one wild locker room incident (he now sometimes says ridiculous things about the WNBA).

Randolph was a bit undersized, yet an incredibly imposing throwback power forward who was twice an All-Star and who was the heart and soul of those grit-and-grind Memphis Grizzlies teams. Arenas and Randolph briefly played together in the 2011-12 season for Memphis.

Well, they’re both in their 40s now and several years into retirement. But we’re about to see their surnames on the back of jerseys in Louisville, Kentucky.

That’s because the daughters of both former standout NBA players will suit up for Jeff Walz’s Louisville Cardinals’ women’s basketball team next year as the cornerstones of an impressive recruiting class.

Mackenly Randolph (a 6-foot forward) and Izela Arenas (a 5-foot-9 guard) have been high school teammates at Sierra Canyon in California. And now, they’re going to join forces at Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Feel old yet?

Both players are tabbed as top 100 recruits in the 2024 class, and they’ll be paired with a third top-ranked prospect in Tajianna Avant-Roberts of IMG Academy. All three will play in the Jordan Brand Classic on April 21 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Here’s what Walz – who has guided Louisville to four Final Fours since 2009 – said about them…

On Randolph:

“Mac displays a relentless pursuit of excellence. She is a tremendous leader on and off the court and brings with her a championship mindset. Her energy is contagious, and her versatility will be showcased in our system. If you need a rebound, she will pursue it. Need a bucket, she’ll manufacture points. She will win the hearts of the Cardinal faithful with her hustle, toughness and determination. She is a bonafide winner.”

And on Arenas:

“Izela is a bonafide scorer on an elite high school team. She hunts shots and is creative off the bounce. She also is an unselfish teammate and a great facilitator on the break. Izela is a consummate gym rat and has a love affair with the game. She is a proficient scorer from the 3-point line and can also attack off the bounce. Her toughness and grit are unmatched, and she will no doubt light up a room with her presence.”

Randolph chose Louisville over offers from Notre Dame and her father’s alma mater Michigan State, among others. Arenas also had offers from her dad’s school, Arizona, as well as Oregon and Iowa State.

Louisville was upset in the first round of the NCAA tournament this season by Middle Tennessee State. With Randolph and Arenas in the fold, expectations will be high for the Cardinals.

Where does Victor Wembanyama rank among current NBA players?

Gilbert Arenas recently spoke about where San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama ranks among current NBA players.

The San Antonio Spurs have been struggling this season, but they have a very bright future ahead of them. With Victor Wembanyama leading the way, it’s extremely clear that the Spurs have their new face of the franchise in place. Wembanyama has been nothing short of incredible for the Spurs this year.

In just his rookie season, Wembanyama is leading the NBA in blocks, and his offensive game has started to come along, too. He’s been outdueling some of the league’s best players, but the big question is, where does he rank among the top guys in the NBA right now? Who is he better than already at just 20 years old?

On his podcast, “Gil’s Arena,” former NBA player Gilbert Arenas discussed where he believes Wembanyama ranks among the current best players in the NBA.

Despite being a rookie, Wembanyama might already be one of the best players in the league.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Gilbert Arenas on why he sent his son Alijah to public school: ‘He can’t take plays off’

Gilbert Arenas said his son Alijah, one of the top players in the class of 2026, attends Chatsworth so he can better test himself.

Nestled on the western edge of Los Angeles County sits the neighborhood of Chatsworth. In the sports world, this area is perhaps best known for being home to Sierra Canyon School, whose basketball program has rostered the children of NBA players, including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Scottie Pippen.

About two miles away is Chatsworth High School, with a boys basketball team that this season had a record better than .500 for just the third time in the last 10 seasons.

Despite the massive difference in prestige, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas chose the latter as the school for his son, five-star sophomore Alijah Arenas.
Arenas spoke about this decision on a recent episode of his Gil’s Arena podcast. After reviewing the league, he said that most players who went to prestigious institutions ended up being role players instead of stars.

“They had the best team, all the guys are five-star, just beating on people, which means none of them are ever really being tested, none of them are going 100% all game,” Arenas said. “I started looking at, where did Zion (Williamson) play high school? Where did John Wall? … [I] realized in their high school team, they were solo. Put them over there and the other kids are smaller, but he’s being double- and triple-teamed. He never gets to play one-on-one basketball.”

In being the center of a defense’s attention, Arenas rationalized, Alijah would have to play hard the entire game and wouldn’t be able to coast — “which means he’s turning into something else,” Arenas said.

“He has to individually try to do everything to keep his team involved. He can’t take plays off.”

Alijah Arenas was dominant this season, breaking his dad’s scoring record in high school and leading Chatsworth to a championship appearance. According to MaxPreps, Arenas averaged 33 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists on the 20-15 team.

“He has to hit game-winers — he has to miss game-winners. He has to make the game-winning assist, game-winning turnover,” Gilbert said. “He feels all of these emotions during the time he has to learn how.”

Based on his output, the idea is working. Recruiters are noticing his talent on the basketball court, as he has 16 offers and is ranked the No. 3 player in the class of 2026 on the 247Sports Composite.

How does the idea hold up when looking at NBA stars? Given how much the youth basketball landscape has shifted over the last decade, let’s take a look at some of the best players who graduated from U.S. high schools since 2010.

  • Devin Booker: Moss Point High School
  • Jalen Brunson: Stevenson High School
  • Jimmy Butler: Tomball High School
  • Anthony Davis: Prospectives Charter
  • Joel Embiid: Montverde Academy
  • De’Aaron Fox: Cypress Lakes High School
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Hamilton Heights Christian Academy
  • Donovan Mitchell: Brewster Academy
  • Ja Morant: Crestwood High School
  • Jayson Tatum: Chaminade College Preparatory School
  • Trae Young: Norman North

How about focusing it on the up-and-coming potential stars who have been draft since 2020:

  • LaMelo Ball: Chino Hills
  • Paolo Banchero: O’Dea High School
  • Scottie Barnes: Montverde Academy
  • Cade Cunningham: Montverde Academy
  • Anthony Edwards: Holy Spirit Preparatory
  • Jalen Green: Prolific Prep
  • Tyrese Haliburton: Oshkosh North
  • Chet Holmgren: Minnehaha Academy
  • Jonathan Kuminga: The Patrick School
  • Tyrese Maxey: South Garland
  • Evan Mobley: Rancho Christian
  • Jalen Williams: Perry High School

There’s a wide variety of schools listed. There’s more to the puzzle than simply listing out a couple dozen of the top players, including sheer number of players at non-basketball-academies and the rate of making it to the NBA — regardless of role player or star level — but Arenas clearly took the time to puzzle it out and make the decision he and the family thought best. Alijah is still just a sophomore, but it appears it’s working.

Gilbert Arenas: LeBron James is a rental for the Lakers’ greatness

Gilbert Arenas talked about why LeBron James isn’t revered by Lakers fans to the extent that Kobe Bryant was.

While LeBron James has a huge contingent of unapologetic fans, Los Angeles Lakers fans aren’t necessarily his biggest supporters. Plenty of Lakers fans like James, but there are also plenty who seem to dislike him and can’t wait for the day he leaves the team.

Yes, he led the team to an NBA championship. However, in four other  seasons, he and the Lakers have missed the playoffs twice and had to go through the play-in tournament during the other two campaigns.

In a recent ESPN article, Bobby Marks and Dave McMenamin wrote that James “has privately questioned whether Laker Nation would ever fully embrace him.” While on the “Nightcap” podcast with Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas addressed the issue of James not being as beloved among Lakers fans as Kobe Bryant or Magic Johnson.

Arenas had some poignant words about James’ tenure with the Purple and Gold in order to explain the lack of love the NBA’s all-time leading scorer has gotten from the team’s supporters.

“LeBron was a rental for the Lakers’ greatness, and that’s just something that he’s going to have to accept,” Arenas said. “His milestones came in this uniform. … But the legacy wasn’t built here.

“LeBron James’ Laker resume doesn’t have a statue here.”

There is something to be said about superstars who spend their entire career, or at least the majority of it, with one team. Bryant, Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor fit that category, and fans adopted them while feeling like those superstars were family.

In contrast, there is a perception James is more of a mercenary who came to Los Angeles, in part, to pursue other opportunities outside of basketball.

He could very well end up playing several more seasons with the Lakers and lead them to another world title. But fans saw Bryant grow up and endure his trials and tribulations to become a finished product, and that simply conjured a much different level of love the latter-day James will not be able to generate.

Move over, Gilbert: Arenas’ son Alijah Arenas beat dad’s high-school record with 53 points

Alijah Arenas, a five-star prospect and son of Gilbert Arenas, scored 53 points for Chatsworth High School in a playoff game.

Alijah Arenas is already a five-star prospect in the class of 2026, and he continues to show why he just may be as good as his dad, Gilbert Arenas.

Archived Los Angeles Times records show the elder Arenas was considered the top prospect in the LA area around 1998 as he entered his senior high school season. His high-school best of 50 points cemented his status as an elite prospect, and he went on to be an All-Pac-10 player at the University of Arizona, leading the Wildcats to a championship appearance before rising to NBA stardom.

Those 50 points in a high school game? His son just broke that mark.

Arenas scored 53 points this weekend, leading Chatsworth High School (Calif.) to a 74-69 regional semifinal win over Washington Prep. He added 11 rebounds in the victory.

Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Sondheimer posted a clip of Arenas:

See full game highlights from The Hoop Spill’s YouTube page:

Arenas is ranked on the 247Sports Composite as the third-best player in the class of 2026 and the top shooting guard. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, he already has 16 offers as a sophomore, according to the recruiting outlet.

Gilbert Arenas wants Bronny James to carve his own path at USC

Gilbert Arenas has his view of what Bronny James should do.

Bronny James faces a fascinating situation at USC, preceding a potential decision about the NBA draft.

People have a lot of opinions on Bronny James, as you could well imagine.

Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor noted that “when Bronny James enrolled to play at USC, the former four-star recruit moved closer to potentially joining his father, LeBron James, on the court in the NBA.

“The possibility of Bronny sharing the court with LeBron has created quite a storyline since no father and son have appeared in the same game in NBA history. LeBron has expressed interest in playing with Bronny and could make it happen as soon as next year.”

Is Bronny James ready for the NBA? That’s one question worth thinking about. However, even if Bronny is not ready for the pros, a team could draft Bronny as part of a two-for-one deal in which that team also brings aboard LeBron, which might make the deal worth it.

This is the complicated picture Bronny faces as he thinks about going pro or staying in college for another season to improve his game.

Gilbert Arenas spoke about Bronny James and offered some advice:

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Gilbert Arenas’ and Lexie Brown’s ignorant comments are a reminder that the WNBA needs more inclusive stories

The WNBA is full of athletes that represent different people groups. If you haven’t seen it, you haven’t been paying attention.

Despite tremendous growth, the WNBA still faces perception and discrimination hurdles that have undercut the stories of individuality the league has tried to lean into for several years.

The WNBA’s rise in popularity is virtually interconnected with the growth of women’s sports and has been highly palpable. As young stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese ascend in the college ranks and consider the WNBA as their next destination, more eyes are on the league. Naturally, that will inevitably spark conversations about representation and reliability.

On a recent episode on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, Gil’s Arena, Arenas and current WNBA player Lexie Brown shared their thoughts on what they believe to be the challenges of connecting the bridge between young athletes to current WNBA Players. Arenas and Brown can be seen responding to previous comments made by Michael Porter Jr. about the WNBA’s pay wage gap and its athletes.

Throughout the conversation, they express who they believe the WNBA is made for, why it is or isn’t exciting and why it may be hard for girls who watch the WNBA to see themselves in the current players. (See the clip below and the 59:12 mark of the video.)

While their conversation speaks to a much more complicated and inaccurate perception of WNBA athletes, it reminded us of a recent interview For The Win conducted with Bethany Donaphin, the WNBA’s Head of League Operations.

We asked her what the most challenging part of her job was. Here’s what she said:

We still have headwinds. We still have barriers that we’re breaking down. We’re still a league that is full of women, women of color and representatives of the LGBTQ+ community. So, we have things that we are up against that we feel certainly capable of pushing through, and we’re seeing this league push through it right now. I think that’s really disheartening considering that there are haters and trolls and things stacked against us. But, we are persevering, and we’re seeing tremendous growth in spite of those things.

The main takeaway from our time with Donaphin was the importance of telling inclusive athlete stories in a way that serves them positively, shares their humanity with fans and provides representation for all athletes and fans who watch or want to play in the WNBA.

The foundation for doing so is there. The record viewership numbers by fans of all walks of life and the companies lining up to partner with the league reflect that. Arenas and Brown mustn’t lose sight of the progress made simply because the product is still transforming.

Q&A: Baron Davis on the exciting Flight Club Invitational tournament at Crossroads School

Flight Club recently announced a multi-year partnership with Crossroads.

Two-time NBA All-Star guard Baron Davis is the most notable basketball alumnus of Crossroads School For Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, California.

He was named Gatorade National Player of the Year in 1997 and led his school to win The Beach Ball Classic tournament in South Carolina when he was in high school.

Decades later, the former McDonald’s All-American is returning to the campus as the Crossroads School’s Boys High School Basketball Team hosts its inaugural Flight Club Invitational basketball tournament on October 28 and 29.

Flight Club recently announced a unique, multi-year partnership with Crossroads. The sneaker consignment store will produce exclusive jerseys and products for the team and coaching staff.

Davis will attend the Crossroads Sports Complex in Santa Monica as several nationally ranked teams are set to compete in this one-of-a-kind tournament.

Some of the players who will take the court include Bryce James (son of LeBron James), Alijah Arenas (son of Gilbert Arenas), Tajh Ariza (son of Trevor Ariza) and Mercy Miller (son of Master P). Other top prospects include five-star recruit Jason Crowe Jr. and four-star recruits such as Naas Cunningham and Emmanuel Stephen.

For The Win spoke with Davis to discuss the tournament, parenting two young children and his own sneaker collection.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.