We’ve had some fun with Gilbert Arenas over the years because he has gone after Duke and Mike Krzyzewski several times. He was not happy with Coach K for cutting him from the US national team in 2006, which was an interesting move on several levels.
Arenas had a groin injury and withdrew and got angry when Jerry Colangelo, who ran the program at the time, told him that he was on the bubble anyway.
He promised to take his revenge on assistant coaches Nate McMillan and Mike D’Antoni in the NBA, and said
that if was still at Arizona, he’d score “84 or 85” on Duke just to make a point. He said he’d be willing to give up a year of his NBA career just to do that.
We have no particular insights on why he was on the bubble, but given Coach K’s keen psychological talents, we assumed at the time he had his reasons.
In 2009, Arenas got in big trouble with the NBA when he had a locker room argument with former Georgia Tech star Javaris Crittenton over a card game. He had two unloaded guns and dared Crittenton to pick one. As it happened, Crittenton had his own gun, which was in fact loaded.
Fun times.
He was suspended for the rest of the 2009-10 season and convicted for carrying an unlicensed pistol, which is a felony in D.C. Luckily for him, he got probation and 30 days in a halfway house (Crittendon didn't learn from this and is currently serving a 23-year sentence for his role in a 2011 drive-by Atlanta shooting death).
Arenas has more on his mind now though: the 43-year-old has been arrested by the feds and charged with illegal high-stake poker games at his home. No word on guns yet this time.
He’s facing three counts: one conspiracy charge, one count for running an illegal gambling business and one for lying to federal investigators.
He could face up to five years in prison if convicted. That’s five years per count, although he could be sentenced to serve them concurrently. On the bright side, depending on where he is sent if convicted, he might be able to renew his relationship with Crittenton. They’d win the prison basketball championship without breaking a sweat.
We have no insights into why Coach K and Colangelo saw him as “on the bubble, but props to both for avoiding this absolute train wreck.
- Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas charged over high-stakes illegal poker ring in Los Angeles
- Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas arrested on federal indictment in connection to illegal gambling business
- Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas arrested on suspicion of running illegal high-stakes poker game from his mansion
- Feds arrest ex-NBA star Arenas for alleged ‘high-stakes illegal poker’ at Encino mansion
- Feds: NBA Star, Suspected Israeli Crime Lord Ran Luxury Illegal Poker Games at Encino Mansion
- Gilbert Arenas arrested, allegedly hosted illegal gambling
- Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas arrested on suspicion of renting Encino home for illegal gambling
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