Latest news with #GilbertArenas
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"When did ring culture become a thing?" - Gilbert Arenas agrees with LeBron's notion of the media caring about championships too much
"When did ring culture become a thing?" - Gilbert Arenas agrees with LeBron's notion of the media caring about championships too much originally appeared on Basketball Network. LeBron James recently sparked a nationwide discussion after criticizing the media's obsession with defining a player's legacy solely by their championship count. King James argued that it makes little sense to judge an individual's greatness based on whether their team was able to lift the Larry O'Brien trophy, as basketball is ultimately a team sport that requires collective effort. Advertisement Unsurprisingly, Stephen A. Smith was one of the first to fire back, claiming that this was just another narrative LBJ was trying to push because he will never likely match up to Michael Jordan's six championship rings. However, Gilbert Arenas had a different take that firmly backed LeBron while using Kobe Bryant as a prime example to strengthen his argument. "What he's saying is actually correct. When did ring culture become a thing?" Arenas said. "When you talk about a team award — something that a structure needs to win — does not boost you in front of individual accomplishments." Gil differs from Stephen A.'s opinion Speaking at the Fanatics Fest in New York City on Thursday night, Agent Zero took the opportunity to challenge SAS's stance. Gilbert made a strong case for respecting individual legacies beyond just ring counts, calling out the hypocrisy of media members like Stephen A. Advertisement For instance, Arenas pointed out that in the early 2000s, Bryant was already a three-peat winner, yet the media still leveraged their right to compare him to Tracy McGrady, who at the time hadn't won any championship rings and was only a Most Improved Player of the Year honoree at that point. According to Gill, that was proof that championship rings haven't always been the deciding factor. Thus, he called out media members for running their biased and inconsistent narrative about "ring culture," highlighting how they conveniently use this factor to shape discussions and shift the goalposts to fit whatever narrative suits the moment. "When you used Kobe to frown upon what LeBron said, I would disagree with that," Arenas told Smith. "In real-time, Kobe had three rings; ya'll wasn't treating him like a three-ring player. You were treating him like a sidekick. He was considered a Robin, considered the next Pippen. In 2002, with three rings, we were still comparing T-Mac with Kobe. So, if you're sitting with three rings, you're still being compared to someone who doesn't have rings. What do you think happened? I need individual accomplishments. 'Can you please get rid of Shaq?' If it was about rings, there was no reason for the fallout between him and Shaq." Related: "He never ever allowed Air Jordan to enter into the locker room" - BJ Armstrong said Michael Jordan was very different behind the scenes Ring culture should not determine legacies If championships were truly the sole measure of greatness, then why isn't Bill Russell, with 11 rings, universally considered the GOAT? The reason is that MJ left an undeniable individual impact on the game. Mike carried the team offensively, as evidenced by him leading the league is scoring on 10 occasions, and that is why Jordan is kept at the very top of the GOAT ladder. Advertisement So, while Arenas managed to school Smith with facts and historical context, the bigger question remains: will other media figures begin to reassess how they measure greatness? Time will tell if the industry finally learns from this much-needed correction. Related: "I don't like him, and he don't like me" - Stephen A. Smith opens about his feud with LeBron James This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gilbert Arenas Sends Strong Message About Caitlin Clark After Magic Johnson Debate
Gilbert Arenas Sends Strong Message About Caitlin Clark After Magic Johnson Debate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In an era when the definition of "superstar" is fiercely debated, Magic Johnson made headlines on Friday for his remark that a superstar is strictly "someone who can go on the road and sell the building out." Advertisement His comments immediately sparked fresh discussion across the basketball world. On that same day, Gilbert Arenas joined the conversation on an episode of "Gil's Arena," naming just three players who fit that bill: Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Caitlin Clark. When pressed on whether Clark qualifies as a "mega star," Arenas didn't hesitate: "Yes... There are a few megas, but she's a mega." Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (left) signs an autograph before a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images After dominating college basketball at Iowa, where she finished as the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, Clark was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft. Last season, she led the league in assists (8.4), scoring 19.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game en route to winning Rookie of the Year and becoming the first rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to earn All-WNBA honors. Advertisement Now in her second season with the Fever, she's averaging 19.9 points, 8.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, despite having played in just seven games due to injury. However, perhaps no metric better illustrates Johnson's "building sell-out" test than the crowds Clark draws. Clark's arrival in Indiana sparked a 93% surge in ticket sales compared to 2023, with the Fever emerging as the WNBA's top trending team, with ticket sales being 13 times higher than the year prior, per StubHub. Average Fever ticket prices jumped around 80%, averaging $175 for away games, well above the rest of the league, according to Axios Indianapolis. Advertisement Just earlier this month, a 19,496-seat sell-out crowd poured into the United Center when the Fever toppled the Chicago Sky on June 7, setting a franchise record for the Sky, per a report from Front Office Sports. While some argue superstar status should hinge on championships or MVP awards, Clark's market impact alone paints a compelling portrait. As Arenas put it, "The definition of superstar has nothing to do with your team's success. Superstar is you." Related: Stephanie White Breaks Silence After Missing Chicago Sky Game Related: WNBA Reacts to Caitlin Clark's Actions During Chicago Sky Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Anthony Edwards Hailed As A Potential Top-100 Player By Gilbert Arenas
Anthony Edwards Hailed As A Potential Top-100 Player By Gilbert Arenas originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves are lucky to have Anthony Edwards as the team's superstar. He has developed well since he was drafted first overall in 2020. He has grown from being a promising athletic freak to becoming one of the league's best players. Advertisement With his status as an All-NBA player, Edwards has cemented himself as one of the best representatives of today's basketball generation. Since he is only 23, Edwards has limitless potential to tap into. Taking that into account, people like Gilbert Arenas see Edwards as a surefire all-time great when he retires. Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Edwards has earned his status as one of the best players in the league. He developed from being an athletic slasher to becoming one of the most versatile scorers in the league. He was initially seen as a non-shooter, but he became the NBA's most prolific three-point shooter in the 2024-25 season. Off the court, Edwards is also a captivating person. He exudes charisma, which has made him a superstar on and off the court. That has made him the best candidate to become a player who will be remembered for a long time. Advertisement Related: DeMarcus Cousins Gets Honest About What Makes Anthony Edwards A Superstar Arenas Believes Edwards Could Become An All-Time Great The Timberwolves' president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, boldly declared Edwards would be one of the greatest players in NBA history. That was an ambitious claim, but he truly believes in his players. This declaration sent waves across the league, which got to Gilbert Arenas and his Gil's Arena co-hosts. They discussed what makes Edwards such an intriguing superstar compared to his peers. "How he started off, you know, four years now made the playoffs every single year. His winning percentage is there, his winning accolades is there. Yeah, he's in that lane to be a Top 100 player of all time," Arenas said on his show. "Sometimes, the problem becomes when you compare them to the greats, you compare the person at 23 to the person you remember them the most." Advertisement Arenas also made a great point about the comparisons between Edwards and the all-time shooting guard greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He does not stack up to them, but he is doing a fine job at living up to their status as the best shooting guard in the league. Edwards Has A Long Career Ahead Of Him At 23, Edwards finished his fifth NBA season. Since he is still young, Ant-Man has more untapped potential. That is what makes him such a scary player to play against because everyone knows this is not the best version of Anthony Edwards. Everyone within the Timberwolves organization knows they are lucky to have such a big star on their roster. Connelly knows this, which is why he wants to provide Edwards with the help he needs to compete for a championship. He has done a mighty fine job in recent years, as they only need to get over the hump. If they can do it, they will be one of the scariest teams to go against because they have Edwards leading the charge. Advertisement Related: DiVincenzo Sends Clear Message About Anthony Edwards Being A Great Teammate This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"Get this dude outta here" – Fans bash Gilbert Arenas after former basketball player slammed Pacers' during the NBA Finals Game 1
"Get this dude outta here" – Fans bash Gilbert Arenas after former basketball player slammed Pacers' during the NBA Finals Game 1 (Image Source: Getty) The NBA Finals Game 1 is over with the Indiana Pacers winning the match narrowly. Though the Pacers' fans are quite happy, there are some who are bashing former basketball player Gilbert Arenas for his comments on their favorite team during the match. One such comment was from an angry Pacers fan, 'Arenas is such a shameless m*f, get this dude outta here.' There were various similar comments from the Pacers' fans, clearly showing how loyal and fierce they are for the team. Fans bash Gilbert Arenas for his bashful comment on the Indiana Pacers During the NBA Finals Game 1, Gilbert Arenas made some comments on the live stream, criticizing the Indiana Pacers which did not sit well with the fandom. Once Pacers' won the match, fans went into full rage mode towards Arenas. Before the Pacers won the match, Gilbert Arenas was on live stream, where he criticized the Indiana Pacers by saying, 'I think them being here does f**k them up because now I think the Indiana fanbase actually think that they are a legit championship team.' The comment was a direct jab on not only the team but also the fanbase, which was not well received. After the Pacers' victory, fans went on to bash Arenas for his comments. Another Pacers' fan taunted the NBA legend saying, 'What you think now?' Fans did not leave a single moment in slamming Arenas for his statement. The range of comments on the post clearly shows their fierce loyalty towards the Indiana Pacers. Besides, what's astonishing is that once the Pacers won the match, Arenas immediately switched sides. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Direct Shopping From Adidas Franchise to 50% off Adidas Buy Now Undo On the live stream he was seen wearing an OKC Thunder jersey, but when Pacers won the game, he immediately put on an Indiana Pacers' jersey and started celebrating the win like a die hard fan of the team. The dual nature of Arenas though perceived as hilarious by many, several fans did not like his earlier comment on the Pacers. There was another angry comment on the live stream post saying, 'how many titles gilbert retire with?' For context, Arenas never won a single Championship trophy in the 11 seasons he played from 2001 to 2013. Some fans even went ahead to say that Arenas does not have knowledge about what a championship team looks like. While the underdogs Pacers are showing their magic on the court, their strong fandom is out there supporting them through and through. With the NBA Finals Game 2 approaching, it remains to be seen who will lift the trophy in the end of the series. Also Read: Tyrese Haliburton reaffirms the comeback kings title for Indiana Pacers with a stunning 2-point dunk and last-minute in Game 1
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Legend expresses skepticism about Memphis Grizzlies centre Zach Edey's hype post the regular season
Gilbert Arenas. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Memphis Grizzlies centre player Zach Edey ended his performance in the 2025 regular season of the NBA with an average of 9 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist. The 23-year-old player has been making the headlines recently, owing to his performance that has turned heads and led to predictions of a glorious prospect for his future within the league. However, former Grizzlies player and NBA legend Gilbert Arenas is of a different opinion, which reflects his skepticism about the predictions made by the sports analysts. Gilbert Arenas explains his metrics to judge a rookie's achievement and capabilities, negates the player's possible development in the NBA In a recent episode of Gil's Arena, former basketball player Gilbert Arenas opened up on his opinions about Zach Edey's ongoing speculations and future predictions by the sports analysts of the game. While experts have commented on the ability of the player despite his young age and affirmed that there is enough time for the rookie player to develop his skills, Gilbert is of a different opinion. 'A rookie is a rookie. Either you are going to be a rookie at 26 and you are going to learn in the NBA or you are gonna learn it at 19. Either way it's your first day at the job.' Gilbert has a different set of definitions that defines the capabilities of the players within the court. While the average stat of Edey in the recent season, which stands at 9 points and 8 rebounds, is fine for a rookie player, it is not the same for someone of the young prospect's age. '9 and 8 for a 23-year-old isn't impressive. For a rookie, yeah it is. But for a 23-year-old, that not what they are looking at.' Gilbert continued, 'You are not on the same value. Like if you look the 19-year-old, the 18-year-old, that was a second round pick, that's in front of him, had more votes than him.' Gilbert Arenas STILL Isn't SOLD On The Zach Edey Hype The name of Memphis Grizzlies' power forward Jaylen Wells came up, who is younger to Edey and had an average of 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Wells was placed on a higher position than Edey on the KIA NBA All-Rookie Team voting results, even though Edey had better stats. Gilbert defended the listicle's purpose of listing out probable star players rather than observing who put on a more solid performance throughout the season. His comparison metrics are based on the age of the player. Gilbert analyses the fact that if Edey scored an average of 9 throughout the season at the age of 23, what would be the other young athlete's score when they are at the age of 23. Also read: LeBron James is not a fan of Bronny and Bryce James' basketball upbringing as he recalled his own journey to become an NBA legend Gilbert seems to be focusing more on the data and past records of rookies in the NBA. He doesn't leave much space for argument within his statements, which completely negates the fact that even though a player starts late, he always has the time to hone skills and emerge as a capable one, improving the average of oneself.
