Gilbert Arenas recently shared a humbling yet entertaining story about his encounters with a young Chris Paul. During a recent appearance on a podcast, Arenas revealed that Paul, then a rookie, defeated him in 1-on-1 matchups an astonishing 20 times in a row.
The story dates back to the summer before Paul’s rookie season in the NBA. According to Arenas, a trainer connected him with Paul for offseason workouts. Despite being an established star at the time, Arenas admitted he underestimated the undersized point guard.
“It’s June, so I’m not in shape. I’m chillin’,” Arenas joked.
But Paul, known for his relentless competitive edge, was anything but relaxed. Arenas recounted how Paul consistently outmaneuvered him, using his quickness, basketball IQ, and scoring ability to dominate the matchups.
“He beat me in ones. Run it back real quick. Beat me again. Run it back, young fella. He beat me 20 times,” Arenas said, laughing at the memory.
Gilbert Arenas says rookie Chris Paul beat him in 1-on-1 20 times in a row:
“He beat me in 1s. Run it back real quick. Beat me again. Run it back young fella. He beat me 20 times… I was 0-20.”
CP3 has been that guy his whole career.
: @WatchPlayback pic.twitter.com/HGB33j5AWq
— CP3REGION (@cp3region) March 20, 2025
While the experience was humbling, Arenas took it as a challenge to improve. He channeled his frustration into motivation, determined to prove himself when they faced off in the NBA. True to his word, Arenas delivered standout performances in their early matchups, including a 33-point game and a 30-point, 11-assist outing.
