Arenas on Dime #29Every day we’re taking one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and breaking down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: Gilbert Arenas.
GILBERT ARENAS (7th year, Wizards/Warriors)
22.9 pts, 5.5 asts, 4.2 rebs, 1.8 stls per game
Why: The question isn’t if Arenas will lead the League in scoring someday, but when. The three-time All-Star and ‘03 Most Improved Player has already broken one of Earl “The Pearl” Monroe’s franchise scoring records (single-game scoring: Gil dropped 60 against L.A. last year), and will could own the Wizards/Bullets record books by the time he’s done. Only 25 years old, Arenas is slowly climbing the NBA’s all-time career list for three-pointers — he has more than doubled all-time leader Reggie Miller’s total at the time Reggie was 25, sticking 882 treys to 421 for Miller — and for the last three years running, Arenas has hit 199 treys or better, whereas Reggie only had one season above 199. Off the court, Gilbert’s left-field personality and booming endorsement portfolio ensures he won’t be forgotten when it comes time for voters to judge his credentials.
Why not: Arenas will have to get his team deeper into the playoffs to avoid the “good stats on a mediocre team” label. Even though his assists (5.5) and steals (1.8) numbers are good, he has a reputation for being a shameless gunner. Health might be an issue; three of Gilbert’s six seasons in the League have been cut short by injuries, most recently a serious knee injury in the spring of ‘07.
Our call: OUT
The H.O.F. Watch archive
11/5 - Robert Horry
11/2 - Kobe Bryant
11/1 - Grant Hill
10/31 - Dirk Nowitzki
10/30 - Tony Parker
10/29 - Elton Brand
10/26 - Carmelo Anthony
10/25 - Vince Carter
10/24 - Penny Hardaway
10/23 - Alonzo Mourning
10/22 - Allen Iverson
10/19 - Dwyane Wade
10/18 - Chauncey Billups
10/17 - Stephon Marbury
10/16 - Jason Kidd
10/15 - Shawn Marion
10/12 - Ray Allen
10/11 - Chris Bosh
10/10 - Chris Webber
10/9 - Paul Pierce
10/5 - Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 - Gary Payton
10/3 - Tracy McGrady
November 6th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Gee says:
Nooooooooooooooo!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:10 am
pistola says:
though i agree that he’s out, man, im hoping he will!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:13 am
fiyaman says:
out.. too much talk to little action..
November 6th, 2007 at 11:18 am
keegan says:
how yall gon say tony parker gettin in after one good year and then say gilberts out? he got too long of a career ahead of him to not eventually have a good team that goes deep or possibly wins it all. IN
November 6th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Bron42 says:
I’d say its way too early since the guy is only 25….parker has rings and a finals mvp. He might not have earned it all himself but its enough to get the nod over gil. Both Gil and Rod benson are goin in the blog hall of fame though. But as of right now, based on stats alone, Gil isnt in yet.
p.s: this is gonna be another “oh come on dime you gotta be jokin, you lose credibility for even askin” guy so save the bitching people.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:35 am
The Spin says:
I don’t see Gil making any charge for the HOF. He needs more depth on his team. He needs a championship. If he wins one, he will 100% be in, probably as one of the only out of Washington.
http://www.clutch3.com
November 6th, 2007 at 11:36 am
frenchy says:
I think it’s too early…i thought the argument was also included how they are expected to finish their career…given he’s opting out at the end of this year, who knows where he could end up next year…could be paired with a big man creating a lethal 1-2…he’s got about 10 years + in him, no way to tell yet…
November 6th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Austin Burton says:
“how yall gon say tony parker gettin in after one good year and then say gilberts out?”
One good year? Are you serious?
November 6th, 2007 at 11:53 am
smity says:
Interesting…
November 6th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Gee says:
LOL no rings, not enough playoff experience, no mvp of nothing. That is how Gil is out and Tony is in.
DIME I am loving every single candidate you have provided thus far and I think you all have mixed them up very well. I am like Bron if you guys don’t like what DIME is offering candidate wise go make your own lil H.O.F. candidate web page lol.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Sacto J says:
A player worthy of debate. I would definitely build a team around Hibatchi, and there’s no arguing the cat can light up the score board. The 2nd question I ask when looking at HOF candidates, is how does he affect his team. Gilbert is not as much a leader on the Wiz as Jamison, perhaps, and the Wiz would have been competative in last years playoffs had they had Butler, and Jamison. So in that respect, Agent Zero is not a lock. However, if he can win an MVP, or a chip, and he continues to do what he do, he could be a no brainer….
November 6th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
keegan says:
i shoulda proly said one GREAT year instead of good year…but by one good year i meant one year where ppl expected him to put up 20 and 8 lol i know the dude been good for a while i jus never saw him as being great until last year
November 6th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
seth says:
Listen yall he’s 25. He’s gonna average 25-30 ppg for the next decade! Barring injury, this guy is gonna be a 10-time All Star with 20 K points in the bank. All that’s speculation, but that’s what we’re doing here. I love Hibachi, he’s impossible to stick when he’s on. He’s 25, we have no idea who he’s gonna be surrounded with in the next decade or if he’ll even be in DC, so it’s dumb to say he ain’t won shit…HE’S 25! You telling me the Spurs wouldn’t be fairly decent if you replaced TP with Hibachi? Gimme a break. How the hell is Spindarella gonna say Gil’s not even gonna make a run? That’s just dumb.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
random_dude says:
my question: ray allen (never made playoffs?) is in. arenas, who may destroy all shooting records eventually, is out? he’s already left a huge legacy as a clutch player and great scorer. he has a long time to make a deep run in the playoffs. i’d say he’s in
November 6th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Gee says:
VIDEO: Arenas vs. Arenas: Tecmo Bowl
There is this video of Gil and his dad talking about who is best at Tecmo Bowl on
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/team?statsId=10
Check it!
November 6th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Lou Spliff says:
Arenas will be this era’s Bernard King. Although, King was a more accomplished player all around and has better playoff credentials thus far. But like King, Arenas will score tons of points and hit big shots but will ultimately fall short of the HOF. Speaking of Bernard King how does he get on the 50 greatest player list but not make the HOF?
November 6th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
McGrady says:
It is right for me to say Arenas is OUT by now, but he is just so much fun that hopefully he will make it.
Go Gil Go!
November 6th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
big40 says:
Does anybody realize that if Agent Zero reads that Dime feels he will not be a HOF by the end of his time in the league that it is almost certain to do 1 of 2 things the first beingoption A: Motivate Gil to prove everybody at dime wrong and/or option B: be posted all over Gil’s next Blog
November 6th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
knoc says:
If hes career ended today. Out
Hes had a few good years. Give gil more time.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Bron42 says:
ya, i can see the benard king comparison. droppin 50 on the pistons with his fingers taped together from dislocation..craziness lol
November 7th, 2007 at 9:59 am
DOC says:
not yet but if he wins somthing. and nard was not on top 50 and ray made the playoffs
November 8th, 2007 at 10:28 am
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
Ray Allen will go down considered one of the best shooters of all-time. Gilbert will be considered a guy who shot the ball a lot.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
sirak says:
not yet for Gil. Has potential to. Speaking of shooter - I know this is all based on active players - but you look at someone like Mich Richmond, man could flat out shoot and had a sweet stroke. will he be HOF one day? Probably not.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Ian says:
out
btw
parker in
November 9th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
istandan says:
Out. Is World B. Free in there? Purvis Short? That’s where I see this guy though Seth makes a point about his age and the potential for all to change. So far he does not look to be on the level of a Ray Allen, for whom I say in, but barely.
November 9th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Willis says:
Allen made the playoffs at least once. I remember Jerome James destroying the interior of my Kings. He owes Brad Miller his contract.
November 14th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
nikko says:
Too many kinda similar players in his generation who are better than him. Better numbers or better teams.
Kobe
A.I.
Vince
Ray Allen
D-Wade
T-Mac
Paul Pierce?
Has a shot, likely no