Rare Photos of Gilbert Arenas

SI Staff | Mar 20, 2012

Rare Photos of Gilbert Arenas /

Rare Photos of Gilbert Arenas

Before he became a three-time NBA All-Star and a guard better known as "Agent Zero," Gilbert Arenas was a highly touted recruit out of Grant High School in Los Angeles, wearing No. 25.

He signed with the University of Arizona, where he had to let go of No. 25 because the number was retired for Steve Kerr.

Arenas, who was drafted 30th overall by Golden State in 2001, joined fellow rookies Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson on a joy ride with then-Executive Director of Community Relations, Otis Smith (now the Magic's GM), behind the wheel.

Because you can never have too many TVs in your Cadillac Escalade.

A friendly workout with Warriors big man Murphy.

In case you forgot, in 2002 Arenas looked a lot like Nick Young with the fro.

Classic media day photo. What a wordsmith.

Gilbert Arenas on the right, and Gilbert Arenas In Wax on the left.

bench

The first thing that should come to mind is Skee-Lo's song "I Wish," where he was sitting on the bench wishing he was a little bit taller and that he was a baller and that he had a girl who looked good so he could call her.

The most incredible thing in this lovely photo is not the five barely clothed models hanging onto Arenas at his 25th birthday party. No, the most incredible thing is his chain, which appears to be a diamond-encrusted black American Express card. He really is a baller.

Michael J. LeBrecht II/1Deuce3 Photography/SI

Arenas has a custom boxing glove bowling ball and boxing robe. Right. Who doesn't?

USA Basketball team members Bruce Bowen (left), Arenas (center) and Brad Miller joke as they pose for photos in South Korea while in town for exhibition games before the 2006 World Championships in Japan. Bowen's expression is priceless.