Amid the criticism against Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant being alleged ball hoggers, we often overlook others with similar tendencies. One such NBA star who faced similar allegations of being a “selfish” player was Gilbert Arenas. So much so that he has not been able to get rid of those discussions around his game even when he is about to step back on the court after ages. While taunts came in good humor from Gil’s former teammate Nick Young, Jayson Tatum has also humorously acknowledged the allegations of the past against the former Golden State Warriors star.

Young, never one to shy away from some fun, posted an Instagram snap of Jayson Tatum’s Jordan Tatum 3 PF sneakers, which were given to him ahead of a 2v2 matchup between Young, Arenas, Rashad McCants, and Brandon Jennings. “Aye @brandonjennings and @iamrashadmccants @jaytatum0 told me to wear these [sneakers] for his haters… Hope yall ready for our 2 on 2 and to… @no.chill.gil pass the ball… You are the corner N—- now,” read the caption.

The sneakers in the frame are Tatum 3 “Wild Child” PE ($210), Tatum 3 “Sidewalk Chalk” ($125), and Jordan Tatum 3 ($125). However, the jab in the caption? It was a clear nod to Arenas’ well-known reputation for hogging the ball and dominating the offensive plays. And Jayson Tatum didn’t miss the chance to chime in.

The Boston Celtics star re-shared the post on his own Instagram story, adding a playful message. “[laughing emojis] @swagggyp1 tell @no.chill.gil to pass the ball now.” It’s safe to say Jayson Tatum’s not one to shy away from a joke, especially when it comes to teasing Arenas about his ball-hogging past.

But let’s not forget—Arenas was no slouch. A three-time All-Star, Arenas could have made an argument for being the best scorer in the league during his prime. Yet, his teams, particularly the Washington Wizards, didn’t find much success. And that’s where the “selfish” narrative was born. However, Arenas has long defended his style of play.

In a 2023 interview, he explained, “We get killed in the media for how we come across… You’re calling me selfish because I won’t pass, but you never asked me why I won’t pass.” His reasoning? Trust issues with teammates who were more interested in partying than practicing, leaving Arenas to take matters into his own hands.

But then there has been an instance where Gilbert Arenas would not even pass the ball to the NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Gilbert Arenas refused to pass the ball to Michael Jordan despite being picked by the Bulls icon

Arenas has never been one to back down from a challenge, and when a young Agent Zero found himself on the same team as Michael Jordan at the 1999 Jordan Camp, he wasn’t about to play second fiddle—even to the GOAT himself. But how did he go from being handpicked by Jordan to flat-out refusing to pass him the ball?

On the Above the Rim podcast, Arenas took a trip down memory lane, recalling the moment he thought MJ recognized his high school heroics. Imagine the excitement—out of nearly 30 players, Jordan points at him. That had to mean something, right? Well, not exactly. Arenas quickly realized that MJ wasn’t picking based on talent.

Apparently, His Airness was stacking his squad with guys who weren’t known for their shooting. The reason? Simple—Jordan wanted to be the guy, ensuring he got the ball on nearly every possession, as stated by Gil.

However, once Arenas figured it out, he wasn’t having it. Instead of playing along, he flipped the script. “Let’s go. Shot that b—- crazy. Didn’t pass to MJ,” he said, recalling how he let it fly instead of feeding Jordan. Bold move? Absolutely. But for Arenas, proving he belonged meant going toe-to-toe with His Airness—even if that meant keeping the ball out of his hands.

It’s clear that Gil has had his reasons whenever he has kept the ball to himself. Now it’s to be seen if this stays the same during his upcoming 2v2 matchup involving him, Nick Young, Rashad McCants, and Brandon Jennings.