Former NBA Star Reveals Shocking Reason for Joining Grizzlies Over Lakers

Gilbert Arenas joined the Memphis Grizzlies over the Los Angeles Lakers for this reason

During a recent episode of Gil's Arena, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas revealed a shocking story about the time he joined the Memphis Grizzlies over the Los Angeles Lakers late in his career. Dealing with insecurities over his gun incident, Arenas claims he talked himself out of a job with the Lakers because he felt the Los Angeles media would be too difficult to deal with.

"I tried out for the Lakers after the lockout," Arenas said. "... If I took 300 shots, I might have missed 10. I wanted to prove what my distance was, so I'm shooting right in front of the half-court, I went 18 for 20... The interview starts, and I talked myself out of this job... All I thought was LA media, the gun stuff, oh hell no... I'm running line drills, they already know I'm in shape, [I say], 'It's gonna take me about two months to get in game shape'... So I'm sitting here talking myself out of the LA job. Because I was scared of the media. Am I the same person Kobe thinks he's getting? I don't wanna deal with that, I'll go to Memphis. Left there, said I don't think I'm ready to play this year. Go back home. Go tryout for Memphis."

Arenas said he even tried to talk himself out of the Grizzlies job, but ended up taking it when they offered him a contract on the spot. It was a fascinating story from Arenas, who ended up finishing his NBA career with the Grizzlies in 2012.

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