Back from ban, Arenas fined for faking knee injury
October 14th, 2010 Posted in NBA basketball newsCBSSports For someone looking to get back into the good graces of his team, its fans and the NBA, Gilbert Arenas has a funny way of showing it.
The Washington Wizards guards latest escapade took place Tuesday, when coach Flip Saunders announced before a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks that Arenas would miss the contest with a sore left knee.
But Arenas revealed after the Wizards 107-92 victory that he pretended to have a bum knee to give teammate Nick Young a chance to start. He told reporters Wednesday that he was trying to do Young a favor.
“I lied to coach and told him my knee was sore so hed start Nick,” Arenas said.
Arenas was fined an undisclosed amount by the Wizards for his deception. It was another blow to the image of a player who is still trying to recover from his 50-game suspension and felony conviction for bringing guns into the locker room last season.
After Wednesdays practice, Arenas first said he wasnt talking, then appeared before reporters offering a halfhearted apology for his actions.
“I screwed up again, so I just want to say sorry,” he said. “I wasnt really thinking that this was going to be another media outburst. Its like everything I do now, someone, tit for tat, tries to blow it out of proportion.”
Arenas altruistic gesture might have gone over a little better if Arenas didnt lie to his coach, or if he hadnt already ruffled feathers this preseason with his moody press conference at the teams media day or his statements that he would “move on” after helping No. 1 pick John Wall learn the ropes.
Saunders, who has gone out of his way to defend Arenas this preseason, said he was shocked and disappointed with Arenas. He spoke to Arenas and the team about the situation.
“I was probably the most surprised,” Saunders said. “I got a text late last night. When I talked to Gil at the shootaround, he indicated that his knee was a little bit sore and stiff and he didnt think he was going to play, and I said, Fine, and I moved on.
“I said to him that Im most disappointed personally. Because I believe in him. Theres been a trust factor. I told him, Youre going to have to be honest with me. Its just like dealing with your kids. Your kids make mistakes and you deal with them. It doesnt mean you love them any less.”
Arenas on Wednesday blamed the media.
“If I wouldnt [have] made any comments, you guys wouldnt have known, right?” Arenas said. “Right. So, lets just say I blew it again. You guys want somebody honest, but you dont want somebody honest. I messed up again. Ill never do it again.
“At the end of the day, you guys got to do your job. Even though its not right that you guys are nitpicking everything I do, youve got a job to do and Ive got a job to do.”
For his part, Young feigned innocence about the entire situation, but was more than happy to take advantage of it, scoring a team-high 24 points in Washingtons win.
“I didnt know I saw it on TV. Thats just Gil doing Gil. I dont even know what was going on. I just went out there and played my game.”
Would Young consider paying Arenas fine in exchange for the playing time?
“Nah. Hes got a lot more money than I do,” Young said.
