Gilbert Arenas was traded away from the Washington Wizards this weekend, ending the guard's relationship with the franchise where he became a fan favorite and star for the right reasons and a household name for all the wrong reasons. Gil not only helped the Wizards climb out of their post-MJ abyss by leading the squad to some memorable playoff runs, but reigned as the NBA's first blog superstar.
Gilbert Arenas’ Indelible Mark On The Washington Wizards
He's off to the Orlando Magic, but the devout of SB Nation's Wizards blog Bullets Forever aren't going to let Gil leave without a day of tribute. The BF crew is expounding on all things Gilbert Arenas: the highlights, lows and everything in between.
Of particular note is a great piece by SBNation.com’s own Mike Prada on how Gil rescued D.C. basketball fans.
Prada writes:
You could say this in the literal “he rescued my fandom” way, which is something that he did for so many other basketball fans in this area. I, along with so many other fans in the area, was beaten down by the way the Michael Jordan era ended. I was tired of my team being the final landing spot for over-the-hill players, guys like Jordan, Bernard King, Moses Malone, Charles Oakley, Byron Russell, Mark Price and many more. I could finally say that my favorite team had an elite star in his prime that not only wanted to be here, but embraced everything about playing in this city with these basketball-crazed fans looking for someone to appreciate.
Every franchise has a hero of a similar vein, and every fan can take joy in remembering the brightest spots in the greater narrative. Please do take a moment to check out BF’s Gilbert Arenas Tribute Day.
Similarly, Orlando Pinstriped Post is taking stock of Rashard Lewis’ tenure with the Magic. The Magic flew high with ‘Shard on board, and as OPP’s Evan Dunlap notes, it’s impossible to write about Orlando’s success without devoting a big chunk to Lewis.
See More:
