Separated by a “Graveyard Shift”, Former NBA Star’s Troubled Childhood Left Him Unfazed Only for One Reason

There are a few individuals who managed to succeed even after the odds were stacked against them. There are some inspiring stories of such men in the NBA as well as they made it to the uppermost echelon of the game. Stars like Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard made it big in the league despite not being perceived as great basketball talents early in their careers. It was a similar situation for a former Washington Wizards point guard and 3x All-Star. He recently opened up about his humble beginnings and what his parents meant to him.

The Washington Wizards have never gotten anywhere close to an NBA title in the 21st century. There have been minimal triumphant moments in the franchise’s history. However, this former Wizards star helped establish Washington as a threat during his time in the league. He gave the Washington fan base some of the best memories on the basketball court.

3x NBA All-Star opens up about his childhood

Gilbert Arenas during his prime was one of the best playmakers and offensive assets in the league. He was averaging almost 30 points a game during the 2005-06 season. He recently sat down with Andscape to talk about his NBA career, childhood, and what his father means to him.

Arenas said, “Gilbert Sr. would wake at 2 a.m. for his graveyard shift as a truck loader at a UPS warehouse. The $11.15 an hour kept them afloat. When he went in for the interview, he told the supervisor he wasn’t leaving without a job.”

He revealed his father was a minimum wage earner making an honest living. But this situation never bothered him as he had his father alongside him, who was everything to him. He added, “We didn’t have much. But I never felt poor because I had my dad.“

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It’s inspiring to see Arenas making it to the NBA and becoming a star player coming from such humble origins. Arenas has also opened up about a bold claim he made to Kobe Bryant in the past.

Gilbert Arenas’ bold claim to Kobe Bryant

Gilbert Arenas was one of the most competitive individuals in the NBA. He never thought twice before taking someone on, even if that person was the legendary Kobe Bryant. When Arenas once faced the Los Angeles Lakers during his time with the Washington Wizards, he scored a massive 60 points.

After the game, Arenas said, “Bro you know how much p***y I’m gonna get now, oh my god.” He boasted the fact that he was going to get a lot of female attention after the game, keeping in mind his 60-point explosion.

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What are your thoughts on Arenas’ story about his father? Let us know in the comments.