One of the more controversial NBA stars of the past two decades claims that he is in talks with NBC to join their pro basketball coverage beginning next season.
NBC is one of two ‘new’ broadcasters for the NBA – with the league choosing them and Amazon to replace TNT starting with the 2025-26 season. ESPN still has their rights to the league.
Now, NBC – who previously held NBA rights from 1954-1962 and 1990-2002 – is in the process of building out their roster of talent. One big name in NBA media has been linked with them.
Former Washington Wizards star and podcaster Gilbert Arenas said that he took a meeting with the broadcaster to discuss a role.
DailyMail.com has reached out to NBC Sports to confirm that these meetings took place and to inquire if Arenas is still under consideration for a job.
‘I had a meeting with NBC,’ Arenas said on a livestream earlier in the week. ‘They’re still auditioning and interviewing other guests that could be a part of the show.
Gilbert Arenas says he has met with NBC to discuss joining the network for its NBA coverage
NBC Sports is set to re-gain the rights to covering the NBA beginning with the 2025-26 season
‘So I had my meeting, and the perspective that they’re coming from is crazy,’ he said.
Arenas continued, ‘It’s a good crazy that people want me, and I’m very thankful for just the opportunities that I put myself back in position to be wanted.
‘Even if I don’t get the job, the fact that I’m even in the running – somebody brought me up to the point where they’re sitting down having 8 o’clock meetings. I’m really grateful for that.’
After the news made its way to social media, NBA fans were not happy with NBC considering someone so controversial.
‘These networks will never learn. Go from haters to more haters,’ wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
One fan said, ‘RIP to any hopes that NBA on NBC would be less horrible than ESPN/TNT Gil is like if Kendrick Perkins took crazy pills & then gave his absolute worst take of all time.’
‘This would be catastrophically bad. NBA media is just going to be terrible forever,’ said another user.
One credentialed NBA media member said, ‘NBC would immediately have the worst broadcasting team in the league.’
NBA fans were vocal in their opposition to the idea of Arenas’ hire by NBC
Arenas has generated controversy both in his NBA playing career and his career off the court.
Most notably, Arenas was suspended for a total of 50 games in the 2009-10 season for bringing a firearm into the Wizards locker room and drawing it on teammate Javaris Crittenton in an argument about gambling debts.
Police investigated the incident and charged Arenas with carrying a pistol without a license. He was sentenced to two-years probation and 30 days in a halfway house.
Off the court, Arenas has made a number of controversial racial statements about European players entering the NBA and about international stars from Africa.
In the aftermath of Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green punching then-Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in December of 2023, Arenas appeared to praise him.
‘I know what Dray doing,’ Arenas said with a laugh. ‘He’s taking care of these Euros one at a time. The media is trying to push these Euros on us and you’re choking and slapping them back. I get it, baby. Do your thing.’
‘He got about six, seven more,’ Arenas added.
Arenas shared the clip from the program on X, captioned: ‘Dray see these Euros takin the league from our people and fighting back,’ with crying-laughing emojis.
While with the Wizards, Arenas was suspended 50 games for drawing a firearm on his teammate in the locker room. He then also served two years probation.
Off the court, Arenas has made many controversial and ‘xenophobic’ statements in the media
Then last summer, prior to the Paris Olympics, Arenas belittled the national team of South Sudan – who nearly pulled off a major upset of the United States.
‘We almost lost to the Ahi Ahi tribe. This is crazy, [Joel] Embiid over there, throwing the game for his cousins and s***,’ Arenas said after the loss. He also mimicked a blow dart and took a shot at the quality of life in South Sudan saying they ‘get their shoes from America’ and that they ‘don’t even have basketball rims… they shootin’ on peach baskets in dirt.’
Arenas went on to apologize for his comments, but did so in a backhanded way when former NBA star Luol Deng called him out.
‘@luoldeng9 I respected u as a player and will as a coach (Sorry for my Disrespectful comments),’ Arenas said before adding, ‘Good luck but not enough luck to win the Gold “Silver” is all urs.’
Recently, NBC confirmed that they would be adding Reggie Miller as a lead analyst for broadcasts. The network has also added Jamal Crawford.
