Gilbert Arenas vs Hakeem Olajuwon ? Is Charging NBA Stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo $50,000 fair?

Out of the five important lessons that an individual needs to remember in order to live a fulfilling life, one of them is ?never stop learning?. No matter how learned or talented an individual is in their field, there is always something more to learn that can further help them to excel. A similar lesson falls for NBA players as well. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo?understands this lesson very well and has been recently making attempts to hone his skills. The player, however, has come under fire for the manner in which he has chosen to do so.

No one has voiced their opinion on the topic more than former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas. This news has compelled the author to put out his own theory on who is right: Gilbert Arenas or Hakeem Olajuwon?

Giannis Antetokounmpo expresses his wish to join a training camp

It all started back in mid-September. Giannis Antetokounmpo made an appearance on ’48 Minutes’ for his very first podcast interview. Giannis?s team, the Milwaukee Bucks, had managed to reach the playoffs the previous season but were defeated by the Miami Heat before the final stage. At present, the loss has encouraged Giannis to put more effort into ensuring that his team does not meet the same fate next season.

Keeping the same thought in mind, the Bucks player revealed his plans to soon join a training camp hosted by Houston Rockets legend and two-time NBA champion Hakeem Olajuwon.

?I love his game, and if I can kind of take a few things from his game or learn anything from the few days I?m going to spend with him, it?s going to be a blessing,? said Giannis during the interview.

Olajuwon is known for providing lessons to pro and aspiring players down at his camp located in Houston, Texas. Some of the best NBA players, including Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and the late Kobe Bryant, had made use of the opportunity to learn under the guidance of the Rockets legend. Learning under the observation of a two-time NBA champion is a dream come true for any NBA fan or aspiring player. Since Olajuwon charges a whopping $50,000 for his lessons, however, the same is not easily accessible to all.

Gilbert Arenas criticizes Hakeem Olajuwon

Gilbert Arenas retired from the NBA almost 11 years ago. Despite this, however, he still keeps tabs on the latest happenings revolving around the world of basketball. Through the use of social media and his YouTube Shows, the former player keeps his fans updated on his thoughts and opinions about the latest issues. Arenas? takes are full of brutal truth, reportedly carrying no filter that covers any part of his expressed opinion.

Giannis?s announcement caught the attention of Arenas. A few days after the podcast interview went viral, the 41-year-old uploaded a video on his official YouTube channel. During the same, he took a jab at Giannis for spending over $50k to take lessons from someone whose moves are allegedly a thing of the past. While his criticism towards the Bucks player was limited, his main focus was towards the main man himself: Hakeem Olajuwon.

?You should be ashamed of yourself, charging these young whipper snappers 50,? said Arenas during his video. Arenas was baffled at the entire idea. He went so far as to make fun of Olajuwon by ?mimicking? his on-court moves. He stated that he was providing this lesson to Giannis ?for free?. Arenas proceeded to keep the ball at a certain angle, hold it close to his stomach, and jokingly spank it at one point.

?I?m sorry but nobody doing this sh*t no more,? Arenas added during the segment. He didn?t even leave behind Olajuwon?s iconic ?Dream Shake? move, calling it a thing of the past.

The comments received criticism from the NBA fraternity. Former Celtics player Paul Pierce took to the comments section of Arenas’ Instagram video. He wrote, ?U crazy put some respect on dream name first of all that move dream did on baseline with the one arm fake layup they still doing today stop it.? Timberwolves legend Rashad McCants chimed in by writing ?Man you said he needed to get better and now you saying don?t get better from the best???

READ MORE: Dwyane Wade vs Allen Iverson: Who Is The Better Dresser?

Prominent ESPN reporter Stephen A Smith was also among the voices. He stated that he ?respectfully disagreed? with what Arenas said. He highlighted the greatness of Hakeem ?The Dream? Olajuwon. Smith placed him amongst the ?top 5 greatest centers in the history of basketball?. He used Kobe Bryant’s quote about Olajuwon to express his viewpoint. It stated, ?When you?re able to understand the small details, you?re able to elevate it to another, higher level?.

Who is in the right?

From a bystander?s point of view, both individuals seem to be in the right here. Arenas feels that paying such an exorbitant amount is an alleged scam. At the same time, Olajuwon is maintaining his former credibility by passing on his learnings to the younger generation. When drawing reasoning over who is right, however, the author will have to side with Hakeem Olajuwon.

It is no secret that Olajuwon was one of the most prominent players of his time. The legacy he left behind inspired many NBA players of today. Basketball fans of today keep his iconic ?Dream Shake? move fresh in their minds, due to its significance. Just like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s iconic ?sky-hook?, the move was a difficult one to defend. The price tag may raise eyebrows. It is, however, essential to recognize the immense value that Olajuwon brings to the table.

The salaries earned by NBA players, combined with the money they receive from their brand endorsements, leave them with a substantial net worth. For them, spending $50,000 to get an edge is not such a big amount to rack their brains about. And they won?t be learning from just anyone. They would be learning from someone with an immense wealth of knowledge and experience.

Being a former NBA player, Olajuwon knows the necessary things that are important for a pro basketball player to succeed. Aside from the on-court moves, Olajuwon is someone who can help with mental conditioning. He can impart valuable details about the mental aspects of the game, including decision-making, focus, resilience, etc.

WATCH THIS STORY:?NBA Legends jaw-dropping Nike revenue revealed.

Gilbert Arenas? hesitation at the price tag attached to Hakeem Olajuwon’s training camp is justified. ?When viewed under the context of the unparalleled expertise, mental conditioning, and long-term benefits that it can offer, however, the investment becomes a justified one.

Editorial Disclaimer:?The?views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.