Black Players We Can't Forget: Gilbert Arenas

If you don't know who Gilbert Arenas is then I honestly feel bad for you. He was a player like we've never seen. After being promised 0 minutes in the NBA, he changed his number to 0 which is how he got his nickname Agent Zero. Once he got the chance to play, it was over from there. If you think Linsanity was something then you have no idea what surprise talent is. Winning the Most Improved Player award in 03, Arenas raised his ppg for the next 4 years. His best season, the 2005-06 season, he averaged 29.3 ppg and 6 assist. Arenas was a man who could not be stopped. If it wasn't for injuries and a gun case then he would probably still be in the league today. He was apart of an era that is highly under rated in Basketball history because only 2 teams dominated the finals. Gilbert will often be overlooked as one of the greats because of players like Kobe, T-Mac, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash. If you look at the stats, you can make a case that Gilbert's 06 season is better than Steve Nash's stats and Nash won MVP that year. You can look at this as a racist standpoint or the simple fact that Gilbert wasn't the definition of a player that you would want as the face of a billion dollar business.

Gilbert's play inspired players in the NBA today, like Russell Westbrook and Jeff Teague who also where the number 0 because of him. Gilbert was a 3 time All-Star and also a 3 time All-Team NBA player which technically states you as a to 15 player in the league. He also graced the cover of NBA Live 2008 and is arguably the greatest player to ever grace a Wizards Jersey, and yes that includes Michael Jordan.