Trey Murphy III has mentored Spurs' Carter Bryant on his journey to the NBA
Bryant helped Arizona to the Sweet 16 last season, averaging 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and one assist on 37.1% shooting from 3-point range. He scored in double figures five times, including a season-high-tying 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks on Jan. 27.
The 19-year-old met Murphy at the Nike Skills Academy and stayed in contact with him throughout his freshman year with the Wildcats. Murphy, speaking on the "Young Man and the Three" podcast, explained their relationship to host Tommy Alter and guest Jabari Smith Jr.
I had seen him earlier because his trainer, Olin (Simplis), "The Guard Whisperer," used to work him out, and I knew him because of Nickeil (Alexander-Walker). I would see clips of him, and I was like, 'This kid has a chance. He is going to be pretty good because he already had the size and the skill with it.' I was talking to him at Nike Skills and we just stayed in contact. Throughout the year at Arizona, he would ask for advice and stuff like that. I would just try to help him through stuff and talk to him. I know, for me coming up, I would always love when older people would spit knowledge and give me game because it is free knowledge.
Bryant logged six appearances with the Spurs last month in summer league, averaging 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 assists on 28.6% shooting from the field. He wrapped up his stay with a 16-point, five-rebound performance on July 17.
The 6-foot-7 forward is highly touted for his scoring potential, playmaking and ability to defend multiple positions, traits that were each on display in summer league. He also proved to be a reliable floor spacer after connecting on at least two 3-pointers in 12 games last season at Arizona.
Bryant joins an organization on the rise, led by Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, among others. After having the chance to talk to Murphy in recent memory, Bryant has a new cast of players that he can learn from next season and beyond.
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38 minutes ago
- New York Times
2025 NBA offseason grades: Rating each team's summer moves
While there are still a handful of moves remaining between restricted free-agent extensions and filling out final roster spots, the NBA picture for the 2025-26 season is now largely in focus. The Houston Rockets, LA Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets retooled with superstar trades and draft-day no-brainers, while the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks took huge swings to compete in what is suddenly a wide-open Eastern Conference. Advertisement Meanwhile, some teams shed contracts (and talent) to get under the collective bargaining agreement's punitive second-apron payroll threshold, and the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans left fans scratching their heads. Here's how our experts grade the offseason acquisitions for all 30 NBA teams. Grade: C The Nets had, perhaps, the NBA's biggest blank canvas for their offseason, but they haven't done much with it yet. Brooklyn did a decent job tearing down what was looking like a Play-In Tournament team at the beginning of last season, and their patience offloading Cam Johnson paid off. They got the Nuggets' unprotected 2032 first-round pick, which is far more valuable than a couple of late firsts in the coming drafts from a contender like the Cleveland Cavaliers. Michael Porter Jr. will be a solid placeholder as the team continues to rebuild, and they fared well taking on Terance Mann's salary as a facilitator in the Kristaps Porziņģis deal to add another first in June's draft. But to use all five of their first-round picks this summer to take players who were mostly reaches and have a lot of skill overlap was disappointing. They still have unfinished business with restricted free agent Cam Thomas, and it looks like declining to extend him last season is paying dividends, as his market appears to be much less fruitful than he hoped. — Jared Weiss Grade: C- The Celtics have been able to shed significant salary. They have wisely pushed themselves under the collective bargaining agreement's second apron in a season they will at least begin without Jayson Tatum. It has still been an uninspiring start to the summer. They have already lost Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet, and they expect to lose Al Horford. Their frontcourt, starring Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, could be one of the NBA's worst. And they are still about $18 million over the luxury-tax threshold, which they would need to get under to begin the process of resetting the repeater tax. The realities of Tatum's injury and the CBA combine to put general manager Brad Stevens in a predicament; he did solid work to solve his team's salary-cap dilemma without burning draft capital, but he must next figure out how to fill the new holes in his roster. Next season appears to be a gap year of sorts. — Jay King Advertisement Grade: B+ Given that the Knicks were one of the most financially tight teams in the NBA this offseason, adding two legitimate role players in Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele is nothing to sneeze at. New York needed depth this summer, and it got it in the form of a bench scorer and a utility forward. Neither signing was splashy, but, on paper, it should bolster a team that made the Eastern Conference finals and struggled to get consistency from its bench. The Knicks were also able to secure a long-term extension with Mikal Bridges, which was for four years and $150 million, $6 million less than his maximum salary. Bridges is a good player on both ends, and the Knicks now have their core set up for the next several years. Furthermore, Bridges signing for less than the max extension may help New York stay under the second apron going forward. Solid business all around. — James L. Edwards III Grade: B None of this matters unless Joel Embiid and Paul George have a run of good health. That being said, I loved Daryl Morey's draft: VJ Edgecombe has a real chance to become a star-level player and second-round pick Johni Broome should develop into a rotation player. Getting Jabari Walker on a two-way contract is a steal. Trendon Watford will be a good and versatile addition to the group. While you can argue the Sixers need a starting power forward, Philadelphia is a deeper and more athletic team than it was a season ago. But Embiid and George have to be healthy, and there is no way to predict how that will play out. — Tony Jones Grade: B- By signing Brandon Ingram to a three-year, $120 million extension in February, the Raptors essentially sat out free agency. They drafted Collin Murray-Boyles — who doesn't address a need but fits in with the defend-and-hustle ethos of their younger players — with the ninth pick. The Jakob Poeltl extension was perhaps a little rich, but he's a good player whom the Raptors need. They took a reasonable flier on Sandro Mamukelashvili to back up Poeltl. However, nothing they did in the offseason will be as important as what they did with Ingram in February or the deals they gave Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley last summer. — Eric Koreen Grade: D+ Chicago still hasn't committed to a rebuild: Call when hell gets chilly. Fans have begged for a sign of progress, or at least something that signals change. The Bulls responded this summer by extending coach Billy Donovan and dealing away Lonzo Ball without receiving any draft capital. Perhaps Noa Essengue could bloom into a starter. Perhaps Isaac Okoro becomes rejuvenated in Chicago. But those things hinge on the promise of internal development. — Joel Lorenzi Grade: B An 'A' would have followed some surprise trade that made this team markedly better than the one that finished first in the East, but salary realities (read 'second apron') made that unlikely. I like the Lonzo Ball acquisition and am glad Isaac Okoro gets a chance in Chicago. I don't mind not paying Ty Jerome way above market value, given his struggles in the playoffs, and Tyrese Proctor out of Duke made sense to me with the 49th pick. Otherwise, the Cavs simply weren't in a position to make that splashy trade. They committed to this roster two years ago, and they need to ride out their commitment for at least this season. — Joe Vardon Advertisement Grade: B- Patience has been a keyword for Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon since Detroit's season ended. His offseason moves have reflected his stance. Chaz Lanier played solidly during summer league and could eventually find minutes off the bench with his 3-point shot making. Jaden Ivey should slot back in as the starting shooting guard, replacing Tim Hardaway Jr. Duncan Robinson will look to make up for the void Malik Beasley's historic 3-point shooting left. Caris LeVert likely assumes Dennis Schröder's primary ballhandling responsibilities on the second unit. The Pistons also re-signed veteran Paul Reed to round out their big-man rotation alongside Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. With no clear-cut favorite in the East, Detroit is betting on the growth of its young core. Considering the news of Beasley's federal investigation breaking days before offseason free agency began, the pivot by the Pistons' front office was respectable. — Hunter Patterson Grade: C- It remains to be seen what the Pacers are going to do at center. With big man Myles Turner off to Milwaukee, Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman are all likely to get playing time. The uncertainty at center certainly impacts Indiana's outlook. And with star Tyrese Haliburton out for the season, the Pacers have a lot to figure out if they're looking to contend in the East. — Shakeia Taylor Grade: B The Bucks were dealt a bad hand when Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles in the playoffs. That left their offseason options severely limited. Bucks general manager Jon Horst opted for the largest waive-and-stretch in NBA history, tying up $22.5 million for each of the next five seasons. That is going to be a serious team-building handicap moving forward, but it would be tough to deny the roster is in a better place now than it was after the Bucks were eliminated from the postseason. Myles Turner affects games in the same way as former center Brook Lopez, plus he's eight years younger and started all 23 playoff games on the Pacers' run to the finals. The Bucks brought back the rest of the roster that put together a 10-4 record to end the season when Lillard was sidelined with deep vein thrombosis, and they added Cole Anthony. — Eric Nehm Grade: A Getting an unprotected lottery pick from New Orleans to move down 10 spots in a blah draft made this offseason a massive success on its own. The Hawks also walked away with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard and Kristaps Porziņģis at a cost of … Terance Mann, Georges Niang, Clint Capela and the 22nd pick in the draft? We'll call that a win. Work remains, though: The Hawks' depth still looks shaky. They need one more big body, and extension questions loom for Porziņģis and Trae Young entering their walk years. — John Hollinger Grade B: The Hornets had a solid offseason to continue their rebuilding project. They took Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick, avoiding the Ace Bailey mishigas, and already have a trophy as a result. The return they got for Mark Williams, who played 106 games in his first three seasons but was not a part of the franchise's long-term plan, was good. Liam McNeeley is the kind of strong-pedigreed prospect worth taking a shot on in the draft, and they get a future first, as well. That return doesn't compare to what they were set to get from the Los Angeles Lakers in their rescinded February trade, but c'est la vie. Getting a second-round pick with Collin Sexton to trade out Jusuf Nurkić continues to boggle the mind. Adding ballhandling and playmaking with Sexton and Spencer Dinwiddie (and re-signing Tre Mann) should help the league's second-worst offense. But the long-term success of the Hornets will center on their young players and amassing as many talented ones as they can, and Charlotte was successful in adding to that war chest in present and future investments. — Mike Vorkunov Grade: B- The Heat have done a decent job of building this roster while maximizing the limited assets they brought into the offseason. Turning Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson into Norman Powell was a major win, even if Powell is 32 and looking for a new contract. Drafting Kasparas Jakučionis at No. 20 was a win for Miami, considering many draft analysts regarded him as a top-10 pick for most of the summer. Bringing back Davion Mitchell on a reasonable deal was also smart. As of now, this team probably isn't a contender, but it can also shake things up by getting involved in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes or going all in on a potential LeBron James reunion — though recent reports have suggested both moves seem unlikely. The biggest remaining question involves what they are going to do about Terry Rozier and the one year, $26.6 million remaining on his deal. Once that's resolved, this team should have enough to compete for a top-six spot in the depleted East. — William Guillory Grade: A- If there was any question before about how relevant the Magic were, that's settled now, thanks to the team's trade for Desmond Bane and, to a lesser extent, the signing of Tyus Jones and additions of assistant coaches Joe Prunty and God Shammgod. The Magic also reached a maximum-salary contract extension with their top player, Paolo Banchero. Orlando may be in the East title-contention mix and should field its best team since Dwight Howard's heyday. Sounds great, right? Why an A-minus instead of an A? The price to trade for Bane included four unprotected first-round picks and a 2029 first-round pick swap, and that price will feel even heavier if the outgoing 2026 first-rounder becomes a lottery pick because Phoenix falters. — Josh Robbins Advertisement Grade: B You can't fault the Wizards for a lack of effort or a lack of ingenuity. In addition to drafting Tre Johnson, arguably the draft's best shooter, they made myriad smart moves to create additional cap space for 2026. None of those moves was more important than shedding Jordan Poole's onerous $34 million salary for 2026-27 by trading Poole and Saddiq Bey to the New Orleans Pelicans in what turned out to be a three-team deal. As part of that transaction, the Wizards also added promising talent Cam Whitmore from the Houston Rockets for a pair of future second-round picks. Washington mastered moves along the margins. So, why only a B grade? While it's true Washington created its own luck with forward-thinking decisions, it entered the offseason hoping to land a franchise-changing player in the draft. The lottery cost them Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper, and they couldn't trade up for Ace Bailey. Maybe Johnson will turn out to be the guy the Wizards need, but as things look now, the Wizards don't appear to have landed someone who will massively accelerate their rebuild. — Josh Robbins Grade: A+ Denver, in my eyes, won the offseason. The Nuggets added depth and shooting. They upgraded significantly from Michael Porter Jr. to Cam Johnson at small forward. Getting Tim Hardaway Jr. on a vet-minimum deal is a steal, and they return Bruce Brown. The Nuggets also acquired the best backup center Nikola Jokić has ever played with in Jonas Valančiūnas. Denver has its best chance of winning a championship since its 2023 title team. The Nuggets are loaded. — Tony Jones Grade: B The Timberwolves were a second-apron team last season with one of the most expensive rosters in the league. They also had the 17th pick in the draft. Those two details meant they didn't have a bunch of money to spend in free agency, and they didn't have a top-five pick to use as ammunition for a splashy summer that could send their grade skyrocketing. But they did spend $225 million to re-sign Julius Randle and Naz Reid, retaining two crucial pieces of their run to the Western Conference finals. They are also sky-high on the potential of their first-round pick Joan Beringer. They did have conversations with Phoenix about trading for Kevin Durant, but those were abandoned when it became clear KD preferred to be elsewhere. The Wolves' biggest departure was Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who left to sign with Atlanta. The Wolves believe youngsters Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark will help mitigate that loss. It was a solid summer for a team that believes continuity and the continued development of Reid, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels will allow them to remain contenders in a Western Conference that is only getting deeper. — Jon Krawczynski Grade: A When you're the champ, not opting for a makeover is fine. Especially in the case of the Thunder, who deploy one of the youngest rotations in the NBA. Oklahoma City not only chose not to meddle with its core, but also locked up its three stars for the future in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. If you're looking for a cherry on top, pseudo-rookie Nikola Topić played well in summer league. — Joel Lorenzi Grade: C If this offseason was about intrigue and heartstrings, the Blazers would get an A. But when it comes to basketball moves, Portland's summer was a curious and confusing exercise. Signing an injured Damian Lillard healed fans' wounded hearts. The surprise draft of Chinese center Yang Hansen at No. 16 has the look of a fun project, and the trade for aging Jrue Holiday and his $100-plus million contract is palatable if the Blazers were on the cusp of contending … but they are not. How Lillard fits into the Holiday-Scoot Henderson point guard rotation in 2026 is a big question, and so too is how soon Yang can contribute. But no question is bigger than the one left by the trade of Anfernee Simons to Boston: Do the Blazers have enough shooting? — Jason Quick Grade: B I think a lot of people are focusing on having to essentially give Collin Sexton away and allow Jordan Clarkson to walk for nothing in return. And, for sure, it's not ideal that the Jazz didn't get much, if anything, for two good players. But this offseason was about clearing runway for the Jazz to again be one of the worst teams in the league, in order to put themselves in position to keep their pick in the 2026 draft next season. Remember, that pick is owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder, top 8 protected. So, the Jazz have to be one of the worst eight teams in the league next season. And that is what this offseason was about. In that sense, they accomplished that. — Tony Jones Grade: Incomplete The Jonathan Kuminga situation has created quite an offseason logjam for the Warriors, who must get his restricted free agency outcome right if they have any hope of adding another pivotal player down the line. But they might have to re-sign him and wait until the February trade deadline to trade him to fulfill that desire. As such, it's pointless to assess a grade until we know where he's heading (if anywhere) and what they might be able to do as a result. Meanwhile, rumored additions like Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton have yet to be finalized. Boom or bust are still both in play here. — Sam Amick Advertisement Grade: A- The Clippers had two primary issues, one apparent throughout the regular season and another in the postseason. The regular season issue: turnovers, something that limited their offense. The postseason issue: the lack of playable non-center athletic size options, as Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon ran circles around the Clippers in a seven-game series. They addressed their ballhandling issues with Bradley Beal, who replaces Powell, and Chris Paul, who replaces Patty Mills. They addressed their frontcourt options with John Collins, who replaces Amir Coffey, and Brook Lopez, who replaces Ben Simmons. Their draft picks won't be counted on, but they selected the most athletic center in Yanic Konan Niederhäuser, who replaces Drew Eubanks, and a 6-foot-9 guard in Kobe Sanders, who replaces Seth Lundy. They re-signed James Harden and Nicolas Batum, and Kawhi Leonard is healthy. The only legitimate complaint is that the team is older. But the Clippers are also deeper and better, and that is more relevant than age. — Law Murray Grade: B- The challenge in grading the Lakers' offseason is whether to hold them to the relative scale of what they were trying to accomplish or whether to grade them against the rest of the league — in particular, their rivals in the West. If it's regarding what they were trying to accomplish, it's hard to think of a way they could've done better than Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart without sacrificing draft picks or significant assets. If it's against the rest of the West, you can't say on paper that they kept up with the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets or maybe even the LA Clippers. But an offseason isn't just about which players come in and which ones are lost; there's other stuff, too. Luka Dončić's extension (and role in signing Ayton and Smart) bodes well for a long-term relationship between the organization and the star. The ownership sale to Mark Walter at a $10 billion evaluation should eventually give the team every financial tool and then some. The awkwardness with LeBron James is less than ideal, but on the whole, the Lakers got better this summer in more than one way. — Dan Woike Grade: C+ The Suns deserve credit for pulling the plug on a miserable stretch. They made a coaching change, hired a new general manager and overhauled the roster. Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets. Bradley Beal was bought out. Perhaps most important, the Suns got off the second apron, which gives them roster flexibility. Still, it was only a first step. Questions remain. How will a Devin Booker-Jalen Green backcourt work? Can center Mark Williams stay healthy? (Coming off the Beal experience, trading for an injury-prone center was indeed head-scratching.) Can rookie big man Khaman Maluach help anytime soon? Growing pains usually come with change. The Suns may experience some for a while. — Doug Haller Grade: C I was tempted to go with 'Incomplete' here, as the Kings remain engaged on the Jonathan Kuminga front and, as such, could still have a far different offseason than the one we've witnessed thus far. But they have made substantive moves that we can evaluate, chief among them the calculated risk of signing Dennis Schröder (three years, $45 million with a small partial guarantee in the final season). Regardless of how you feel about Schröder — and he's been a mixed bag in recent seasons — the point guard void had to be filled after the previous front office regime traded De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio. First-year general manager Scott Perry was aggressive in landing shooting guard Nique Clifford in the draft, sending a 2027 protected first to Oklahoma City to bring the 23-year-old from Colorado State to town with the 24th pick. (He earned first-team All-Summer League honors.) All in all, it's going to take Perry a while to clean up this messy roster. — Sam Amick Grade: A Mavericks fans have reason to hope again. The team lucked into the No. 1 pick and selected Cooper Flagg, and the 18-year-old Newport, Maine, native is expected to be a monster. He impacts the game in so many ways. Dallas has enjoyed some smaller wins, too. Convincing Kyrie Irving to decline his $43 million player option for next season and re-up on a new deal gave the Mavericks access to the taxpayer midlevel exception, which they used to sign D'Angelo Russell. Daniel Gafford's extension ($54.4 million over three years) was another piece of good business. — Christian Clark Grade: A The acquisition of Kevin Durant by a 52-win team without cratering depth was enough to cap a strong Rockets offseason, but the veteran additions of Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela on team-friendly contracts put Houston in rare summer air. The organization was also able to retain key rotational members Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams and Jabari Smith Jr. without handcuffing themselves financially — and the Rockets now stand as arguably the deepest team in basketball. This team has shifted from a patient rebuild to an aggressive championship push in fewer than three seasons and now has the personnel to play any style that head coach Ime Udoka wants, any time. Houston's time is now. — Kelly Iko Grade: B The Grizzlies' offseason was a setup for whatever comes next, thanks to a draft-pick bounty from the Desmond Bane trade and a rebalanced cap sheet. Even with Jaren Jackson Jr.'s expensive extension, Memphis is $21 million below next summer's projected first apron and will hope the Suns' ineptitude delivers a high lottery pick. The Grizzlies likely overpaid for Cedric Coward on draft night, but they got value in Ty Jerome's contract and their return on Bane. Can Tuomas Iisalo coach? Is there a starting center here? Grading this offseason is tough because it's a wait-and-see process. — John Hollinger Advertisement Grade: D The Pelicans' stunning draft-day trade that sent their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks has been a consistent source of conversation for the last few weeks — and it's not just because of the tremendous risk New Orleans is taking by accepting such a deal. Despite constant concerns over Zion Williamson's health issues and an inexperienced roster, New Orleans' front office expects the Pelicans to make a playoff run in a treacherous Western Conference. Even if you like the Pelicans' rookie additions of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, the recent news that Queen underwent wrist surgery and will be sidelined for three months adds to the long list of obstacles this team has to overcome. — William Guillory Grade: B+ One of the side effects of Victor Wembanyama's rapid improvement last season was the debate about whether the team needed to accelerate its timeline to start competing as soon as possible. The De'Aaron Fox trade in February fed into that notion, but the Spurs wisely didn't take it too far this summer by trading for Kevin Durant. Getting the No. 2 pick in the draft gave them a clear path to a steadier build-up around their star, and they showed they weren't afraid to be patient when they took Dylan Harper. Selecting Carter Bryant at No. 14 gives them a tough 3-and-D wing to develop in an already-deep rotation. They brought in Luke Kornet for just less than the midlevel exception with a team-favorable structure, giving Wembanyama a steady backup and keeping the locker-room vibes positive as the team starts to face higher expectations. This team is still in an identity-building phase. The Spurs enter the season with an overabundance of downhill driving guards between Fox, Harper and NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, but that's fine. Eventually, they'll see what a fully fleshed-out Wemby looks like and know what he needs around him. — Jared Weiss (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Michael Reaves, Stacy Revere, Chris Gardner / Getty Images)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Stephen A. Smith Warns Gilbert Arenas On Drastic Consequences Of Treating Federal Charges As A Joke
Stephen A. Smith Warns Gilbert Arenas On Drastic Consequences Of Treating Federal Charges As A Joke originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Gilbert Arenas came back into the center of controversy years after his gun charges cost him a suspension in the NBA during his career. Earlier this week, Arenas was arrested by federal agents on charges of running an illegal gambling business, in connection with a member of an Israeli transnational crime group. Just a few hours later, Arenas was indicted, and he pleaded 'not guilty' and was allowed to submit a bail bond valued at $50,000. Following this, he went on a freedom press tour off-sorts, despite the trial date being set for late September. He called out multiple people, including Kwame Brown, and did not seem to have a care in the world as he openly admitted he would turn on the other defendants linked with him in this case. This press tour did not sit well with Stephen A. Smith, who has personally known Arenas for multiple years. In the latest episode he recored of his podcast, Smith directly addressed Arenas out of concern. Stephen A. started by clarifying that none of this is hostile, and he respects Gilbert Arenas and his knowledge of the game at a very high level. But he admitted he was 'alarmed' by what Arenas said. 'In light of what he's being accused of, however, I'm still gonna say to Gil, Bro, I need you not to play around. Because my brother, I don't want to see you in jail at all." 'It's not a good look. It's nothing to laugh about. It's nothing to joke around about and think is funny when the feds come raiding your home. I don't want to see that. I don't want to hear about anything like that.' 'I can assure you, anybody who wants to do business with you, and I'm one of those people. ESPN, Underdog, a whole bunch of sponsors and advertisers, we don't want to see that. 'Anybody that knows anything about you and your knowledge of the game and your ability to articulate and deliver your positions, my brother, you are a special talent. We don't want to see that [going to jail].' 'And the reason why I felt compelled to come on the airwaves and address you directly is because I want to remind you of what really got you in trouble in the NBA to begin with. Remember that years ago…Remember all of that with the guns in the locker room? Remember all of that? Remember all of that that happened? 'And you remember what really got you in trouble thereafter? Because, as bad of a look as that was, and as much as former Commissioner David Stern and others were ready to bring the heavy hand down upon you, what really exacerbated the situation is that you had a game a night or two later against the Philadelphia 76ers... You were joking around, feigning as if you were shooting guns.' 'And David Stern went ballistic. It was like somebody like you had no place in this league. Because it's not a joking matter to other people. And the reality is, is that my brother, it shouldn't be a joking matter to you.' As a result of the gun charges in 2009, Arenas was suspended for 50 games as his behavior seemed to enrage David Stern, per Smith. Similarly, Smith believes that to a court of law, such behaviour after his arrest may not be seen as positively as Arenas hopes for it to be. The trial is set to begin on September 23, as Gilbert Arenas could be looking at 15 years in prison (three counts, five years maximum sentence for each).This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Stephen A. Smith Warns Gilbert Arenas On Drastic Consequences Of Treating Federal Charges As A Joke
Stephen A. Smith Warns Gilbert Arenas On Drastic Consequences Of Treating Federal Charges As A Joke originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Gilbert Arenas came back into the center of controversy years after his gun charges cost him a suspension in the NBA during his career. Earlier this week, Arenas was arrested by federal agents on charges of running an illegal gambling business, in connection with a member of an Israeli transnational crime group. Just a few hours later, Arenas was indicted, and he pleaded 'not guilty' and was allowed to submit a bail bond valued at $50,000. Following this, he went on a freedom press tour off-sorts, despite the trial date being set for late September. He called out multiple people, including Kwame Brown, and did not seem to have a care in the world as he openly admitted he would turn on the other defendants linked with him in this case. This press tour did not sit well with Stephen A. Smith, who has personally known Arenas for multiple years. In the latest episode he recored of his podcast, Smith directly addressed Arenas out of concern. Stephen A. started by clarifying that none of this is hostile, and he respects Gilbert Arenas and his knowledge of the game at a very high level. But he admitted he was 'alarmed' by what Arenas said. 'In light of what he's being accused of, however, I'm still gonna say to Gil, Bro, I need you not to play around. Because my brother, I don't want to see you in jail at all." 'It's not a good look. It's nothing to laugh about. It's nothing to joke around about and think is funny when the feds come raiding your home. I don't want to see that. I don't want to hear about anything like that.' 'I can assure you, anybody who wants to do business with you, and I'm one of those people. ESPN, Underdog, a whole bunch of sponsors and advertisers, we don't want to see that. 'Anybody that knows anything about you and your knowledge of the game and your ability to articulate and deliver your positions, my brother, you are a special talent. We don't want to see that [going to jail].' 'And the reason why I felt compelled to come on the airwaves and address you directly is because I want to remind you of what really got you in trouble in the NBA to begin with. Remember that years ago…Remember all of that with the guns in the locker room? Remember all of that? Remember all of that that happened? 'And you remember what really got you in trouble thereafter? Because, as bad of a look as that was, and as much as former Commissioner David Stern and others were ready to bring the heavy hand down upon you, what really exacerbated the situation is that you had a game a night or two later against the Philadelphia 76ers... You were joking around, feigning as if you were shooting guns.' 'And David Stern went ballistic. It was like somebody like you had no place in this league. Because it's not a joking matter to other people. And the reality is, is that my brother, it shouldn't be a joking matter to you.' As a result of the gun charges in 2009, Arenas was suspended for 50 games as his behavior seemed to enrage David Stern, per Smith. Similarly, Smith believes that to a court of law, such behaviour after his arrest may not be seen as positively as Arenas hopes for it to be. The trial is set to begin on September 23, as Gilbert Arenas could be looking at 15 years in prison (three counts, five years maximum sentence for each).This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
