:::: HANDLE ISSUE 007 COVER STORY 1: The Next Generation of Boomers COVER STORY 2: Gilbert Arenas FEATURES: Steve Leven, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Corey “Homicide” Williams, Mikaela Dombkins PLUS: Jason Richardson, NBA Player Jewellery, Mix Master Mike, SHOEnanigans, Pat Mills, Jordan Farmar and more!

Gilbert Arenas: Q&A

What was life like growing up for you?

I grew up with my dad; it was just me and him. We moved from Tampa, Florida, where I was born, to LA because he wanted to become an actor. I had fun, I had a lot of friends, and even though it was a rough childhood I still had fun with my friends.

Did you always want to be a basketballer growing up?

No, not really, my first sports were track and football. I was a quarterback and a receiver. I was an Emmitt Smith fan growing up. But once I started playing basketball Penny Hardaway was my favourite.

How old were you when you first started playing?

I was about 11 or 12 years old and I just liked it from day one.

Where did you go to high school?

I went to Birmingham HS first and then finished at Grant HS. I played junior varsity first, wasn’t very good and then finished at Grant. My coach was Howie Levine, he was the first coach that ever believed I’d be a professional basketballer. He told me when I got there, “You’re going to be my first NBA player.” I was like, “Yeah, right” because at that time I wasn’t that good.

Were you heavily recruited coming out of HS?

Not really. Arizona represented a chance: A chance for me to work. I didn’t want to get it easy, I wanted to work. They had some great players when I was there and it gave me a chance to become a better player.

Is there a favourite memory from college?

I had a great two years there. If I could do it all over again I’d do all four years instead, knowing that the outcome would be the same, that I would end up here today in the same situation. Making the championship game against Duke and then losing really hurt a lot. But we all had to move on from that.

What was the thinking behind turning pro after just two seasons?

I thought I was going to be a better player in the NBA than I would have been in college. I doubted myself when I got there too, because I wasn’t playing. But eventually I started working. I’m not going to not make it because I didn’t work.

Is that the primary reason behind your success, sheer hard work?

Yeah. You know, everyone is talented, but the big separator is who is going to work the hardest? Who’s willing to work the longest? I thought if I worked hard I would earn my minutes.

When you were drafted did you have problems with hangers-on and such?

That’s funny because you always find out these half-cousins everywhere when you become famous! Like my mother, who I’d never seen before the age of 22, and then I sign my big contract, she pops up and says, “Hey, I’m your mother” and I’m like “What?” You get people saying they’re related to you and can they have tickets and I don’t even know them! It’s hard to deal with but you have to be strong.

The hard part is that I thought I had a good group of friends, but somehow some of them lost perspective, they thought they didn’t need to get jobs when I got the big deal. They thought I should pay their rent and I was like, “No! Get a damn job!” So a couple of my friends that I thought were close ended up falling out and now I only have a couple of really close friends. Money didn’t change me but it changed a few people around me.

Does the fact so many teams passed on drafting you still motivate you?

It motivated me to the point that I don’t even watch the NBA draft anymore, because there’s always some kid who’ll get screwed because there’s something else besides basketball that they judge you on. All it is, you get the best basketball players, you know, “Well, this guy had it bad growing up” so then what the hell does that have to do with putting the damn basketball in a basket?

Were you surprised how well you played when you finally got the chance to play at Golden State?

No, I always believed in myself. I just needed a chance and I knew I could make it. Because I started so late, I started so late there was no rookie wall for me!

Do you wish you could’ve stayed with the Warriors?

Oh yeah! I had a great time there; that was a great place to play. It was just one of those situations where some people had to move on. There was me, Troy (Murphy), Jason (Richardson), Erick Dampier, everyone has contracts and I would’ve loved to sign a deal to stay there but in the process there is always someone who gets screwed every year and I didn’t want to be that person.

Why did you pick Washington?

Because they were honest from the beginning: simple as that.

Have you enjoyed playing for Eddie Jordan?

Yeah, he’s helped my career a lot. He’s helped me get to the All-Star game twice, he’s gotten us to the playoffs twice, and now he’s made me an Olympian as well.

Did you feel snubbed when you didn’t initially make the All-Star team this year?

Yeah, it was hard to swallow, you know? A guard is averaging nearly 30 points per game and he has to get picked by the commissioner? It was a little weird I thought. I made the team last year and I think I’d been doing a better job again this year, so it was very tough.

It obviously means a lot for you to be playing for the USA this year?

It’s great because everyone wants to play and it gives me another chance to get out there and prove myself.

Do you think you guys are favourites to win?

Yeah, I mean, we’re not favourites because of our past experiences but we have to go out there and get the job done.

Do you think the shorter 3-point line will be a problem?

No, I’ve been working on that and I’ve been hitting my shots pretty good, so I think I’ll be OK.

What do the Wizards need to do to become one of the league’s elite teams?

I think we need to make some power moves. What I mean by that is you got to have the guts to take on some players that no other team wants to take a chance on.

What did you think of your playoff performances this year?

I had a whole lot of fun. I thought that was a great series for me to break out, playing against Cleveland and LeBron James. We had fun, and at the end of the day, we had them beat! All three games they won, they were our games but fate wasn’t with us.

Who are the toughest players to guard?

LeBron is tough. I think Kobe Bryant’s the toughest player to guard though. He’s just hard to stop.

What’s the toughest team to play?

Teams like San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, you know those teams that have been together for so long, they’re hard to beat.

Did you think you got snubbed for the MVP Award?

Snubbed? I didn’t even get one vote! I mean, I think my reputation is getting bigger, maybe next year I might get a couple of votes. When you almost get snubbed from an All-Star game, 4th in the league in scoring, I’m like, what do I have to do to get a vote?

Should Nash have won it?

Truthfully, you could’ve given it to Kobe; it was a hard call though. He got his team into the playoffs and accomplished a lot this year. But Steve, he made 4 or 5 players that much better and that’s an MVP right there, so it was a real tough decision. At the end of the day you can’t complain that Steve won it.

Against Golden State last year, you averaged 42.5 points per game. Was that to show them what they were missing out on?

I think I just feel comfortable playing back home, I get out there and I just like playing there.

As a team leader, what do you try and tell the new rookies on the team?

I just try to show them that hard work comes first. I think I try to go out and show the young players that you have to work hard, that it can be very easy to get distracted, especially when you’re young; you want to go out and party. I try to set an example when we’re on the road where I just stay in my room and get my rest.

Are you comfortable with being a role model for young fans?

Yeah, you know, especially the young kids because even though some players don’t want to be role models, the fact is, we are. We have to be on our best behaviour at all times and I try to teach kids that with hard work, anyone can make it to the NBA.

You know, not every NBA player is a stubborn, jack-off or whatever you want to call them; there are some good guys here.

What about the media? Do you get tired of interviews?

No, I love it. Some people want to be in the NBA for the money, others because they want to be on TV, some people want to be there because they like the exposure. I like doing interviews, I like being on TV, I’m not going to shy away from that.

What’s your favourite NBA memory so far?

You won’t hear a lot of NBA players say this but my favourite memory is my first NBA basket. It was a lay-up against Cleveland at Golden State when I stole the ball and got out in the open court and made a lay-up. And all the guys were laughing at me ‘because I didn’t dunk it. But I was like, “that’s my first two points” so if that was my last two points, I can go back in the locker room and say, “I scored two points in the NBA”. That’s my proudest moment.

Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

The day before a game, I go in and shoot 200-300 shots, because I don’t shoot on game day because I think that alters my shot. I’d rather keep my energy for the game. I make sure I stretch for at least three hours before tip-off and that way I’m ready to go.

Are you happy with your new signature shoe, the Adidas Zero-G?

I finally got a pair and I’m gonna wear them in the Olympics, all-white ones!
Yeah, I’m really happy with em, they’re gonna sell a lot!

Are you a shoe fanatic?

Oh yeah! That’s why it was easy for me to help them design a good-looking shoe because I am a shoe person. I know what kids want; I know what they want to buy because if I don’t like it the kids won’t like it. I was a big Air Max ’95 fan, I loved Agassi’s, Grant Hill’s first pair of Filas, and Jordans: I have every Jordan. I still have them all. I keep em in a special spot in my house, eight rows just full of Jordans. I like the Is, the IIs, the IIIs and the XIs.

Off-season, do you try and play all year?

Yeah, I do that. I don’t believe in taking time off. People say you got to get your rest but if you train your body to go all year round, and then it will go all year round! It’s just like anything; if you train it to do that then that’s what it will do. It won’t get fatigued. I’ve had no problems with that and in truth, I actually last longer because of that.

What about when you’re not playing?

I play video games, I’m an Xbox man, I play Halo, I just love playing Halo!

I heard you took up bowling, have you had much time for that this summer?

Last summer, I was very strong, this summer I haven’t been doing as much. Chris Paul is having a bowling tournament when we get back from the worlds but I’m not letting on I’ve had a high game of 277, I don’t want them to know I’m that good!

I also have a daughter, Izela, she’s 7 months old. You know, it’s different. I focus so hard on playing and then you have to switch your mindset. Now days that never used to mean anything to me, like Easter and 4th of July, they’re special days now – Easter egg hunts and that sort of thing. Before my baby came along I was like, “Easter? What the hell is that?!”

What music are you into?

Mainly rap, some R&B. Favourite rappers are The Game, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z.

Do you have your own charity or foundation?

I have the Zero to Hero foundation that I’m getting started. I don’t really have a concept of who I’m gonna help, I just want to help. So I think my first big, big project is going to be a scholarship for kids. If you’re going to be the first person in your family to go to college, then that’s the sort of thing I want to help with. I think this should be a global thing, I’m gonna pick 2 people from every country that writes me an essay giving me a reason why I should give them a full college scholarship.

What about the stories about the online poker?

See the thing is, everyone thought it was online gambling but it was just a poker game on the game console. It wasn’t online poker at all. Everyone thought it was online poker but I kept trying to tell them it was a poker game on the computer. Instead of listening to music I was just playing poker against the computer. I’m not a gambler; I don’t even know how to gamble. I’m one of those people that sit there and because you’re playing against the computer you can go “all in” every time. I think things got all mixed up, I mean, how am I gonna play online poker inside a locker room? I went to a casino with Chris Paul and the guys the first week we were in Vegas for the World Championship tryouts and everyone was like, “Are you gonna gamble?” and I had to tell them that I’ve never sat down at a table before. I had $500 in my pocket and I figured if I doubled it in Vegas I was doing pretty well and if I lost it, no big deal. Either way, I was walking away. So I doubled it and left the casino. People lose their lives to gambling. I don’t want to be in the news like Barkley and John Daly, imagine telling your family you lost $2 million gambling.

Are you a gambler on the court?

Yeah, I been trying not to of late, but I used to gamble every time. All in, every time – me and Larry Hughes, we’re going all in, baby!

Do you miss Larry at Washington?

I miss him more as a friend, I’ve known him ever since we came into the league and he and Antawn Jamison are like brothers to me.

Making the USA team with Antawn must be a thrill?

Yeah, it’s great because we’re both happy to be here. He’s the perfect example of not giving up because of a bad situation you might be in. Don’t ever think that where you start is where you’re going to finish. Antawn was the franchise player at Golden State and then he was traded because people said he was selfish. So he goes to Dallas, and then gets traded again to us and that same year he makes the All-Star Game. And then the next year, he’s an All-Star and he makes the USA team, so no matter where you’re career starts off at, if you believe in yourself you can finish well.

RETURN TO BACK ISSUES