“Ah, He’s Washed.”: Infuriated by the Michael Jordan Comparisons, Wizards Legend Calls Out the League for Its Shortsightedness

Getting into the greatest basketball league in the world comes with a price. A price of constant criticism, uncertainty about the future, injury risks, and more. Recently, a Washington Wizards legend spoke about the relentless and remorseless side of the NBA. During a podcast appearance, the 3x All-Star discussed the impatient nature of the fans and the organizations.

The veteran was not happy about the lack of chances youngsters get to prove themselves on the court. The league’s shortsightedness and insatiable desire to win at any cost have led to the premature exit of several promising young players claimed the former star.

A former star sights Michael Jordan while discussing the growth of young stars

Gilbert Arenas joined in on the podcast with former NBA great Iman Shumpert. The veterans discussed the demands of fans and the effects that come with the expectation of instant success from young players. Arenas said that the expectation of immediate success stunts young athletes’ natural growth. He stated that players can’t emulate legends like Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson from the first season.

Arenas claimed young stars require the right opportunity and time to grow and even these All-Time Greats required time. He also said that players should be given enough time to develop emotionally and physically. The former point guard argued that judging players based on their performance in their initial years in the league is unfair. 

He said, “We’re expecting like, ‘Oh, we need to win the championship today. We need to do this.’ And you’re just throwing out the pieces. Just get out, get out, get out, get out. Like, ‘Ah, he’s washed.'”

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Arenas emphasized the point of giving the players enough space and time to grow to reach their potential. He expressed concern about the trend of trading young stars prematurely as teams fail to recognize that they’re on the verge of hitting their peak. This short-sightedness, he argued, disrupts the natural progression of a player’s career.

Hasty trades and unjust “washed” labels

Even veteran superstars like Russell Westbrook had the ‘washed’ label thrown at them completely disregarding their previous accomplishments. So most young athletes are not safe in the league. Many franchises trade young players before they reach their peak. Notably, 2017 #1 pick Markelle Fultz arguably fell prey to the recklessness of the fans and the organization after his initial struggles. Teams that expect an instant impact from young players and keep unrealistic expectations of them could even lead good prospects out of the league.

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