Team USA needed a revamp after finishing with a bronze medal during the 2004 Olympics. The management and coaching staff started to make changes in 2006.
Veteran point guard Chris Paul shared that there were tryouts held to pick players for Team USA. Many talented stars were cut from the team, including Gilbert Arenas. According to CP3, Arenas was pissed off after getting cut from the team in 2006 and sought revenge on the coaches.
“We had tryouts in 2006,” Paul revealed in an episode of The Pivot Podcast. “They brought out 30-something NBA players to Vegas. Like throw the ball out on the floor, dive on the floor. We had real tryouts. You imagine getting to the NBA, the highest point in your life, and then you get cut?”
CP3 added: “When they cut him. Gil [Gilbert Arenas] let all them know. He let all them know. He was like, ‘Listen, when I play y’all, Imma give you 50. Imma gonna give you 60. And if I could go back to college, Coach K I would give you 70.’ Guess what he did, when he played against Portland, Nate McMillan – 50. When he played against D’Antoni – 50.”
(Starts at 43:45)
In 2006, Gilbert Arenas was coming off the best season of his career. Arenas averaged 29.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 6.1 APG. He also earned the NBA All-Star honors that season. Evidently, Agent Zero was one of the best players in the league.
However, he simply didn’t fit in with coach Mike Krzyzewski’s plans for the team. Team USA finished with a bronze medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championship without Arenas.
Gilbert Arenas Claims He Destroyed LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, And Carmelo Anthony In 2004 Olympics Practice
Nowadays, Gilbert Arenas is known for his media presence. Gil provides his takes on everything around the league by making appearances on podcasts.
Speaking of which, Arenas revealed a story of destroying LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony in a practice session during a 2004 Olympics practice. Arenas unveiled the story in an episode of ‘The Old Man And Three Podcast.’
“My team… on one side he has LeBron, D-Wade, Joe Johnson, Chris Paul, Melo, Dwight, Chris Bosh. On the other side… Kirk Hinrich, Bruce Bowen, me, Antawn Jamison, Brad Miller… My team, we didn’t have the star power…”
He added: “They decide, Brad Miller, of course, Antwan Jamison, Kirk Hinrich, give me the ball the whole time, let me just destroy them, I’m faster… We’re beating that squad, we’re beating the blue squad. We’re sitting here celebrating and for some reason, I got all the hate for this.”
Before getting injured at 25, Gilbert Arenas was an explosive guard. He had the potential to change the outcome of any game with his scoring ability. Arenas did just that when he claimed to destroy James, Wade, and Melo. However, instead of getting praised for it, he was apparently hated.
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