Gilbert Arenas No Longer Agent Zero
Gilbert Arenas is the latest NBA player changing his jersey number next year. By ditching his now infamous “Agent Zero” namesake and jersey number 0, he will join LeBron James wearing jersey number 6 next year. Arenas is ardently attempting to shake his old reputation, and start anew in 2010-11.
Will a jersey change actually help Gilbert change? (Credit: picapp.com)
This move to number 6 is rather peculiar in that it is strongly reminiscent of how Kobe switched his number from 8 to 24 during his post rape case. Bryant had decided it was time to signify change, and has done so successfully since. Will Gilbert be able to follow suit, or will his “Merry Prankster” antics resurface yet again?
It is likely due to coincidence that he is selecting the same number as LeBron. Either that, or maybe he just wants to follow in James’ footsteps, which is not a bad idea. James talks the talk and never walks the walk (think dunk contest, an NFL career). A far better practice for Arenas to follow than how he has faired thus far on his own.
Will Gilbert follow Kobe’s footsteps further and strike a shoe endorsement deal with Nike just like Kobe? Adidas terminated his contract shortly after Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony gun possession charge and was suspended for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. Kobe had his contract terminated (along with other international deals) after the rape accusations surfaced in 2003.
After playing in only 15 games total in two years prior to this season, a healthy Arenas played in only 32 games this year, totaling 47 games over the past 3 seasons due to injury/stupidity. That is a lot of time to miss when you are signed to a monster max contract of 6 years and $111 million dollars.
Maybe the 6 year duration of the contract is what really spawned the jersey number 6. In Arenas’ demented mind, I wouldn’t rule it out.
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Fri, Mar 12, 2010 by Adam Sedie
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