Magic Ex Gilbert Arenas Slams Orlando for Not Drafting Disgruntled Former Star

Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas wasn't a fan of the Orlando Magic passing on Emoni Bates twice.

ORLANDO - Gilbert Arenas is among some fans who were not pleased with the Orlando Magic's 2023 draft class. 

Arenas played 12 years in the NBA, including one with the Magic. He was a three-time All-Star and made the All-NBA team three times. 

On Arenas' podcast, Gil's Arena, he said Eastern Michigan's Emoni Bates was the steal of the draft. Arenas also said Orlando should have targeted him with its first pick. 

“Who you gonna take with the No. 6 pick Orlando? BATES! Him, Paolo [Banchero], and the two guards I got? Man, come on, man,” Arenas said on his podcast.

Bates averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in his only season at Eastern Michigan. He was taken with the No. 49 pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Bates spent the first season of his collegiate career at Memphis. He averaged 9.7 points per game in 18 games appearances for the Tigers before transferring to EMU. 

Orlando took Anthony Black from Arkansas with the No. 6 pick and Michigan's Jett Howard at No. 11. 

Black, who was an all-SEC freshman, was the only player in his conference to finish top 25 in scoring (12.78), rebounding (5.06), assists (3.92), steals (2.06) and blocked shots (0.61). Howard averaged 14.2 points per game and led the Wolverines in 3-pointers with 78 made in 2023.

Arenas is far from the only person to question both picks by the Magic. The only way to get an answer on if Orlando made the right call with its two first-round picks is when Black and Howard finally see the court in the regular season. 

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