The Washington Informer: Sports

By John E. De Freitas
WI Staff Writer
Thursday, February 16, 2006

Two weeks ago the coaches and fans voted for the players who would play in the 2006 All-Stars Game at Toyota Center in Houston on Feb. 19. To the surprise of most of the Wizards fans, forward Gilbert Arenas was not on the reserves list. Word even leaked before the official announcement that Arenas was not named.

“There is no explanation whatsoever for Gilbert not to be participating,” said teammate Antwan Jamison. “I do not understand the coach’s point of view leaving off a guy who is the fourth leading scorer in the league named last year. It is not right.”

“I am disappointed but it’s the NBA,” Arenas said. “It happens. There are politics involved in the NBA. I just have to look at it like ‘Okay,’ it happened to me and now I have to go forward.” Arenas even said he was not going to watch the official announcement of the All-Stars reserves on TNT, planning instead to watch the movie “Bambi II.”

Arenas said his focus was going to be on helping his team defeat the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers and 76ers. On his way to the Cavaliers game, Arenas said he saw an email on his cell phone telling him he was included on the reserves list afterall. He thought it was a joke.

The message said that the Washington Wizards guard had been added to the Eastern Conference All-Star roster as an injury replacement for Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neil.

“I was like, is it April Fools yet?’ It’s a blessing,”Arenas said. He continued, “It is an honor to be named an All-Star and I ‘m really happy that Commissioner Stern has chosen me. I’m excited and honored to be picked among the best players in the game, and I’m looking forward to representing my teammates and coaches and this organization at the All-Star game.”

Arenas, the Wizards leading scorer, will be making his second consecutive All-Star appearance. Arenas and Jamison made the team as reserves last season. Arenas became the first Wizards to play in the All-Star games since Michael Jordan, who appeared in the 2002 and 2003 games.

“I’m just happy I made it,” Arenas said. “Like I said, if I was a coach, it would be a difficult situation. You have many talented guards to choose from in the East, so someone is going to be left off every year. I’m just happy to be there this year.”

Arenas is currently the fourth leading scorer in the NBA, with a career high average of 28.2 points per game. He is one of four players ranked among the top 20 in both points and assists per game. He has scored at least 30 points in 22 games this season, and has topped the 40-point mark on six occasions. He ranks third in the NBA in minutes played and three-point field goals made.

“Gilbert is very deserving of this All-Star honor and we are excited that he will be representing the Washington Wizards at this year’s All-Star Game. He is extremely talented, but more importantly he’s a wonderful and giving person. I know all of our fans share in Gilbert’s tremendous accomplishment,” said Wizards Chairman Abe Pollin

Arenas joins Allen Iverson (Philadelphia); Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neil (Miami); LeBron James (Cleveland); Jermaine O’Neil (Indiana); Paul Pierce (Boston); Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace (Detroit); Chris Bosh (Toronto); and Vince Carter (New Jersey) on the 2006 Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Over the weekend the Wizards defeated LeBron James’ Cavaliers, 101-89, and Allen Iverson’s 76ers, 107-97. The Wizards return to the MCI Center on Feb. 21 to face Minnesota at 7:00 p.m.