Gilbert Arenas | Poker Blog

Gilbert Arenas has been suspended indefinitely

January 7th, 2010

Washington Wizards’ NBA superstar, Gilbert Arenas, may have played his last professional basketball game.

Gilbert Arenas Photo

The story begins aboard a Washington Wizard’s charter flight heading home from Phoenix on December 19th. It was here that Arenas and teammate, Javaris Crittenton, entered into a typical game of what was thought to be friendly, high stakes poker. Two days later, in their home locker room, Arenas allegedly threatened Crittenton by pulling three guns, placing them on a chair by Crittenton’s locker and telling Crittenton to “pick one”. Arenas effort to intimidate his teammate was replied to by Crittenton replying that he had a gun of his own. It was reported that at one point in time, the players had guns drawn on each other but there were no shots fired. All this potentially violent drama was allegedly triggered by a $25,000 gambling debt Arenas incurred during that December 19th flight. High stakes poker play is nothing new to Arenas who is known for bragging about his poker play with teammates and online. The New York Post reports that his exploits include:

* Playing for tens of thousands of dollars aboard the team jet.
* Dashing off to the locker room during halftime to play online poker.
* Using the $103 per diem that Wizards give him when the team travels as buy in money for the high stakes poker matches.
* Cleaning former teammate – and current Knick – Larry Hughes out of $17,000.
* Taking $57,000 from another teammate whom Arenas declined to identify, and $5,000 off Dallas forward Drew Gooden.
* Claiming at least 10 victories in poker tournaments among teammates.
* Boasting that he spends $5,000 per month on living expenses, but his poker earnings covered all the costs during the 2006 season.

However, as the old saying goes…it’s all fun and games until someone “loses an eye” (or is it “pulls a gun”?). Shortly after the incident, poor judgment raised it’s weary head again as Arena re-ignited his Twitter account tweeting that NBA Commissioner, “[David] Stern is mean” and then Arenas goes on to stand in the middle of a pre-game circle of his teammates and made finger-gun gestures pretending to shoot all of them as they all fell down laughing. Perhaps the Washington Wizards should change their name to the Washington Morons??

Despite his recent troubles with guns, Gilbert Arenas pretended to shoot his Wizards teammates before Tuesday’s win over the 76ers.

Arena said initially, the entire episode was a “misguided effort to play a joke” and has since apologized publicly to his teammates, his fans and the NBA for his lack of judgment. As a result of his actions, Arenas has been suspended indefinitely, without pay pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA. At this point, an investigation is under way and a grand jury is involved. There have not been any charges filed to date.

It will be interesting to see what happens as the investigation moves forward. However, one thing is certain, we have not seen the last of Gilbert Arenas.

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