JockBio: Gilbert Arenas Facts

JockBio Vital Stats
• Washington Wizards	• Guard	• #0
• Height: 6' 4"	• Weight: 215	• Born: 1/6/82

Besides Gilbert, the two most famous graduates of Grant High School are actor Tom Selleck and Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees.
Gilbert and Gail Goodrich are considered to be the two finest players ever produced by the San Fernando Valley.
Gilbert was Grant High School’s first Division I scholarship player since Sean Watkins, who played for Nevada Las Vegas in 1987.
The Los Angeles Times named Gilbert its 1999 San Fernando Valley Player of the Year.
One of the reasons Gilbert chose Arizona was his friendship with Luke Walton of San Diego’s University High.
Gilbert decided to wear number 0 in college, after people told him he would get zero playing time as a freshman at Arizona.
Gilbert was a Third team All-American in 2001.
Gilbert average nearly three steals per game during the 2002 NCAA Tournament. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region.
Gilbert worked with Chris Mullin during his rookie season to improve his outside shot.
Gilbert and Jason Richardson formed the NBA's youngest starting backcourt in 2001-02.
In his waning days with the Warriors, Gilbert was arrested for driving without a license and carrying a concealed weapon. He was suspended for one game by the NBA—the 2004-05 opener for the Washington Wizards more than a year later.
Gilbert dropped a career-high 44 on the 76ers in April of 2005. In his next game he took just two shots.
Gilbert’s 60-point game against the Lakers in 2006 set a new franchise scoring record. The previous mark belonged to Earl Monroe, with 56.
Gilbert made a 40-foot jumper in the playoffs against Cleveland in 2006.
Gilbert opted out of his contract with the Wizards following the 2007–08 season, but the team re-signed him. Among the other teams interested in his services were his old club, the Warriors.
In 2005, Gilbert became the first player from the 2001 draft class to play in the NBA All-Star Game. When Gilbert and Antawn Jamison made the East squad as reserves, it marked the first time since Moses Malone and Jeff Malone played in the 1987 contest that two Washington players went in the same year.
Gilbert finished second to Dirk Nowitzki in the 3-Point Shootout at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.
The NBA threatened to fine Gilbert for wearing shorts that were too baggy during the 2005 playoffs against Chicago. He showed up for the next game with a pair of tight ones instead.
One of Gil’s best NBA friends in Bruce Bowen. Both came from mothers who had succumbed to the evils of drug addiction.
Gilbert nearly spent his first NBA paycheck on a shark tank. Warrior personnel director Otis Smith took him to a shark expert, who explained why this would probably be a bad idea.
As a free agent, Gilbert chose the Wizards over the Clippers, who made him a nearly identical offer. He flipped a coin and Los Angeles came up eight out of 10 times. He went with Washington to go against the odds.
Gilbert is one of the league’s best practical jokers. When Warrior veterans gave him the rookie treatment and ordered him to bring doughnuts to practice, he showed up bearing plain doughnuts with baby powder sprinkled on them. The next time he brought real glazed doughnuts. When the players found out he had thoroughly licked each one, Gilbert was excused from doughnut duty.
Gilbert is a training fanatic. He has been known to workout three times a day on off-days.
Gilbert lives in Miami Beach during the off-season.
Part of Gilbert’s deal with adidas is that the company must outfit his old Grant High team.
Gilbert owns a pair of pit bulls. They run with him on his treadmill.
Gilbert throws his jersey into the crowd after every home game.
Gilbert’s ritual pre-game dinner always comes from the same place: Boston Market.
Gilbert walks on and off the court on his heels. He started doing this while running track at Grant High, to avoid shin splints.
Gilbert rarely sleeps more than a few hours a night.
At a 2004 Christmas Party for Washington area kids, Gilbert met a 10-year-old named Andre whose mother, twin sister and great-grandfather had died in a fire. He became Andre’s unofficial big brother, and made him a ball boy for the Wizards.
Gilbert’s dad is out of the acting game. He now writes commercials.
Many of Gilbert’s Grant High records were broken during the 2004-05 season by Mike Danielian. Gilbert worked out with the team in the fall of '04 and passed on tips to Danielian.
Gilbert is friends with many rap and hip-hop artists, including The Game. In 2007, P-Diddy performed at his 25th birthday party.
Gilbert was thrilled to grace the cover of NBA Live 08. He is a huge gamer.

Luke Walton, 2003 SI for Kids

Chris Mullin, 1992 Kelloggs

Moses Malone, 1976 Topps