Gilbert Arenas On Why He Sat Out Of Preseason Opener: 'I Was Really Scared Of Getting Booed'

After the Washington Wizards preseason opener on Oct. 12, guard Gilbert Arenas said he faked the knee injury that forced him to sit that game out. Last Thursday, Arenas told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated that the real reason he sat out was because he was scared of getting booed.

"I was really scared of getting booed. It's a little crazy because I was here with Kwame Brown when Kwame was scared to go out there. I used to be like, Man, it's just boos," Arenas reportedly said. "Now here I was six years later, and I was him. I was scared to go out there."

Arenas first said that he faked a knee injury so teammate Nick Young could get more playing time.

The former Arizona Wildcat made his 2010 debut against the New York Knicks on Friday night, scoring 18 points and shooting 6-for-13 from the field.

The NBA suspended Arenas for the final 50 games of last season for reportedly bringing four guns into the locker room.

Comments

[Deep77]

11:12 PM on 11/11/2010

I would love to see what Carey Price has to say about Arenas.

[rcozad]

10:28 AM on 11/11/2010

Actually the real reason is : He played for the U. of Arizona and in Arizona it is almost a requirement that we carry CONCEALED GUNS to every event from church to school to bars you name it and our NEOCON Legislature and GED diploma governor BREWER will support it! ( I am still somewhat amazed that the NRA has not seen fit to headquarter here). Poor Gilbert, he just thought he was in ARIZONA again!

[hey0there]

06:01 PM on 11/11/2010

All those illegals down there I'd be packing too

[PowerPridePinstripes]

08:39 AM on 11/11/2010

So glad he shaved off that beard.

But, on a serious tip, this dude is just plain immature --

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

06:35 AM on 11/11/2010

He might have been afraid to get his uniform sweaty, too.

[Sj Han]

04:08 AM on 11/11/2010

good

[Badger33]

12:26 AM on 11/11/2010

How about spiders? Are you "really scared of" spiders too?

[MyResponsibility]

11:50 PM on 11/10/2010

Sissy.

[firelord5000]

11:40 PM on 11/10/2010

To be fair, he deserves to be BOOED and fired, Arenas has become a total joke, quite shocking considering he was a top 25 caliber player just 3 years ago.

[booboo111]

11:15 PM on 11/10/2010

He'll end up back in Europe.

[williamg]

10:17 PM on 11/10/2010

3 years from now, we'll be looking at Gilbert as a tragic figure.

[CatfishJohn]

08:53 PM on 11/10/2010

I love basketball ,do not like all the huge egos in the NBA and often laugh openly at the Wizards futility. that said, i think Huff Post deserves the flag for piling on with continuous coverage of the misadventures of this obviously psychiatrically disturbed athlete. Read between the lines. Read about his profoundly traumatic childhood. NOT excusing the gun incident or the self-absorption, but this guy merits a little less derision maybe?

[LogicalMathMan]

01:16 PM on 11/11/2010

I would agree with your post and the tolerance you call for, but to suggest that Arenas is psychiatrically disturbed without know the history of his childhood is a little too extreme.

[Puller58]

06:42 PM on 11/10/2010

This has to be the lamest excuse I've ever heard.  Butch up cupcake.

[GossipSports]

06:38 PM on 11/10/2010

The guy has a few screws loose..right?

[Edward Murray]

06:03 PM on 11/10/2010

And people are out there supporting a 9-figure chump afraid of hearing 'boo's?

Maybe those 'boo's come from the fact that you don't play ball, you privileged brat.

[benhawkins]

06:01 PM on 11/10/2010

Gilbert says he has become a mentor to John Wall. That they are together 24/7 when on the road. So all you Wizards fans out there, rest easy.