Former All-Star, Gilbert Arenas, recently made another one of his controversial statements. This time he blamed European players for the lack of defense in the NBA.
Arenas argued that European players do not learn defense, as they do not go to college in the US, where defensive skills are taught. He also claimed that European players are not athletic, fast, or good at jumping, making them defensive liabilities. He suggested that the NBA should “get rid of all Europeans” to improve the quality of defense in the league.
“I know what they can do. Get rid of all Europeans…
You go to college to learn defense. What college do Europeans go to? They have no athleticism. They have no speed, no jumping ability. They are a liability on defense. They are 150 Euros in the league today… name the top defenders. None! Just Rudy and the Greek Freak. Other than that, they are offensive players.
The NBA took away aggression,” Arenas said. “They took away aggression to open up the EuroLeague. When they first started getting here, it was too rough for them. They didn’t make it. Eventually, they softened the rules. They didn’t soften the rules for the Americans. They softened the rules to open up international.
So when they say the euros are going to run the league in the next five years, why do you think that? More threes, passing, cutting — this is not our league, this is not the American style, this is the Euro style. Drive in, suck the defense in, pass the ball to the three-point line.”
GILBERT ARENAS SAYS :
THE EUROPEANS RUINED DEFENCE IN THE NBA . Thoughts ? pic.twitter.com/EfyiSNqXI2— BLACK FLAG (@FlagBlack007) March 4, 2024
This biased and divisive opinion completely ignores the reality of the NBA. Without going into detail, naming Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, Kristaps Porzingis, Franz Wagner, Bilal Coulibaly… should get the job done.
Either way, as you can imagine, NBA Twitter also was not too pleased with Arenas’ take, and was quick to shut him down.
POV @wemby literally leads the league in blocks and is top 10 in all defensive stats: pic.twitter.com/Pcy9brFU0a
— Matt Lerma (@MattLerma_PS) March 3, 2024
Marc Gasol was a DPOY btw pic.twitter.com/QbQhn7Bbcl
— ⚒️Championship Otto (@ChiefOttoSosa) March 3, 2024
Gilbert Arenas watching Nikola Jokic absolutely cook the lakers: pic.twitter.com/M0XPzC8nPS
— Mo Mooncey (@TheHoopGenius) March 3, 2024
Ah yes, lockdown defender Gilbert Arenas
— WinStreakz App (@WinStreakzApp) March 3, 2024
Rudy Gobert,Wemby and Giannis are some of the best defenders in the NBA
Guess what,all of them are European
— ️ (@JovanRMFC) March 3, 2024
Gilbert Arenas after making 283797 bad basketball takes pic.twitter.com/EeSlxXlwki
— Ethical Hoops (only takes Ws) (@EthicalHoopz) March 3, 2024
How long can Gilbert Arenas go without a bad take? pic.twitter.com/IGCUzbZYVv
— Vengeance Wood (@Vengeancewood) March 3, 2024
Literally had to check 5 different times to see if this was real. What in the world is Gilbert on? My goodness this is horrific
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) March 3, 2024
Didn’t realize that the two DPOY odds leaders, Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama, were ruining defense in the NBA
— Lost Tribe Sports (@LostTribeSports) March 3, 2024
muted “gilbert arenas” from my timeline pic.twitter.com/WG80FOnlhH
— wagner brüder stan (@vucci_mane) March 3, 2024
When Victor Wembanyama hypothetically becomes the greatest defensive player of all time and Gilbert Arenas finds out where he is from: https://t.co/Ie0eX5owiZ pic.twitter.com/1Te3OGgKbV
— Angelo (@AGLR_23) March 3, 2024
Gilbert Arenas is making my All ex-NBA Player First Team for bad takes
— 5’2 and fine too (@amngll) March 3, 2024
Gilbert Arenas every couple weeks pic.twitter.com/LuUDM4jAPs https://t.co/tGPZXdoY8X
— mo️|They Got Me (@HeyyyyyyMo) March 3, 2024
