Debates do get hairy on the Gil’s Arena podcast, but not this literally. Can’t fault this gang, though. Team USA won another gold at the Paris Olympics, Stephen Curry ran up to LeBron James to celebrate, and the image looked like Curry was a little kid hugging his uncle at Christmas. Bron’s salt and pepper beard was the main character of that meme and is now the star of Gilbert Arenas & Co’s show. James’ fuzzy jaw got roasted to Miami and back. Ironically, Arenas’ own facial foliage was the focus of national attention over a decade ago.

Arenas, Kenyon Martin, and Rashad McCants got loud and funny picturing The King walking out of the tunnel at the Lakers’ first game this season with his naturally two-toned beard. Gil even narrated that his fiancee, Melli, said while watching the Olympics Gold Medal game, “Wasn’t his beard black yesterday?” Gil’s instinctive reaction was to tell her, “Don’t do that, pretend that’s a whole other Bron,” for the sake of humankind. But he went there himself.

At 39 years old and heading into his 22nd NBA season, Father Time has not touched James’ game as much as people would have expected. His beard, though… Arenas is convinced that something supernatural is at play if Bron shows up with a beard as dark as night the next time he’s playing. But Martin is resolved “There’s no going back” for Bron now that we know the wisdom and experience that shows in his mane.

And realistically, the guys at Gil’s Arena needed to be reminded this isn’t that ‘kid from Akron’ anymore, though he’s still averaging 25 PPG. “He’s [LeBron] one party night away from being Grandpa… like one road trip in Miami, he go to sleep too early, and waking up say he hey, hey Pops, you got a grandson,” Agent Zero stated on the podcast.

LeBron and Bronny are already the first father-son duo on the same team. Being a grandpa while playing would make mane maintenance difficult. Even if Bron has his own men’s grooming line. Gilbert Arenas is one to talk, though. Considering his curly coiffures were a showstopper of their own.

Gilbert Arenas’ beard: Gone too soon

That was in 2010 when Arenas was in his last season with the Washington Wizards. Contrary to the neat look we’re used to now, he had a scraggly, ear-to-ear scruff then. The NBA community took it for granted until it was gone. It started with a bet with his teammate. Nick Young had to grow an afro, Arenas had to grow a beard. And the Gil fuzz grew on fans.

A reporter overheard a conversation between Arenas and Wizards owner, Ted Leonsis, at a practice. Arenas gave the old man a hug and the latter commented something on his beard. According to the reporter, “Arenas grinned and said, ‘I’m cutting it, I’m cutting.'” Leonsis tried to convince him to keep a goatee like himself. But Arenas doubled down, “I’m cutting it. This was a pre-season look.”

His beard did go under the razor that season. Agent Zero started wearing #9, he was traded to Orlando in a few months (no connection between the beard and the trade), and he retired a couple of years later. These days Arenas sports a goatee closer to Leonsis’ look. So his old boss did get what he wanted. Now he has the credentials to laugh at Bron’s beard.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.