Gilbert Arenas who spent three seasons with the Golden State Warriors from 2001 to 2003, was a rising star in the league during that time. His ability to score from anywhere on the court combined with his defensive prowess made him a fan favorite. However, there was a time when the shooting guard had to do something with his debut team that he never thought that he would do. But what was it?

In the recent episode of the “Gil’s Arena Podcast,” Josiah Johnson brought up the topic of Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelican’s future when the whole cast got into a heated debate. It was at this time Arenas made a revelation about an incident that the NBA fans were not aware of.  “You can type in Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson Boycots practice. Right, so they were messing with my time,” said Arenas during his podcast.

The 42-year-old went on to reveal that the Golden State Warriors were cutting his playing time. The reason? As shared by the former shooting guard, he was playing quite well during his second year with the Warriors, which would have resulted him in getting a high-value contract. The Warriors’ management was aware of this so they devised a strategy to bring down Arenas’ value by not letting him play for a longer period. It was at this moment that he boycotted the team and was followed by his teammate Jason Richardson. “I was like man, like I look, f**k that I’m going to just sit right now. So Jay Richardson said well f**k it. If you ain’t happy, I ain’t happy, I’m sitting with you,” said the former shooting guard during the podcast.

Arenas and Richardson were a formidable duo for the Warriors at that time. They both entered the NBA in the 2001 draft class. While Arenas was known for his scoring ability and playmaking, Richardson was known for his jumping style and his ability to make an outside shot. Bot players showed significant growth in the second season the Warriors, when this incident happened.

On one hand, Arenas had increased his scoring from 10.9 to 18.3 points per game, on the other hand, Richardson improved from 14.4 to 15.6 points per game. However, despite their joint efforts, they couldn’t succeed in lifting the team’s status to a higher point.

Arenas’s story is a reminder of the power that athletes have to influence the game. When players feel that they are being treated unfairly, they are not afraid to speak out and take action. However, apart from this incident, there was another scandal that proved to be bad for Arenas’ career.

Gilbert Arenas’ incident when he was in Washington Wizards

Gilbert Arenas, known for his bold personality both on and off the court, found himself at the center of one of the most shocking scandals in NBA history—a scandal that surprisingly began not over basketball, but a game of cards. In 2009, while playing for the Washington Wizards, a heated card game between Arenas and his teammate Javaris Crittenton spiraled out of control, leading to a gun showdown in the team’s locker room that left the entire NBA world stunned.

The tension reportedly began during a 2008 card game, when Arenas, feeling the pressure rise as Crittenton began losing, made a chilling remark. “Javaris, I will burn your car while you’re in it. Then we’ll find an extinguisher to help ya ass out,” Arenas recalled, as he later shared with The Action Network. What started as trash talk escalated quickly, with both players taking things to a dangerous level.

Just two days later, Arenas brought four unloaded guns to the Wizards’ locker room as part of the ongoing feud. But things took an even darker turn when Crittenton responded with a loaded weapon of his own. The situation became so intense that the rest of the team fled the locker room in fear. This gun standoff between teammates led to both players being suspended for the remainder of the 2009 season by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The incident, involving firearms in the locker room, remains one of the most controversial and jaw-dropping moments in NBA history, forever staining the legacies of both players and highlighting the shocking consequences of a seemingly harmless card game gone wrong.

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.