Almost exactly three years before the NBA suspended Gilbert Arenas (on his birthday) indefinitely, without pay, while the league investigated his firearms incident, Arenas was shooting lights out against the Utah Jazz as the crowd chanted MVP!
The MVP candidate scored an MLK day record 51 points (topping MJ's 46), which also ties a Verizon Center record (set by MJ), in a 114-111 victory, decided at the buzzer by a game-winning 3 pointer.
"I'm going for the gusto," Arenas said. "I'm going for that winner. The funny part is I was sitting right here before the game and I told DeShawn [Stevenson]: 'I feel like 37 and the game-winner tonight.' So when I told him after the game: 'What did I say?' He just started laughing and said: 'Man, you were right.'"
The 51 marked the 7th time that season the 25-year-old star scored 40+ and another sign that Arenas had a very bright future ahead of him.
"I'm going to break all the records that's here," Arenas said with a laugh of his own. "I'm glad it was an older Michael than a younger Michael because if it was a younger Michael it would have been up there."
The good news for Arenas is he signed a massive contract after that season. The bad news is shortly after we had the firearms incident and then his time in Orlando and shorter time in Memphis.
As for current good news, Arenas seems to be doing well, still making lots of money, making phone apps and still shooting lights out at random gyms and courts.
But I still miss seeing him put up 40, 50, even 60 against the top guards in the NBA.
2006/2007 season
- vs Kobe: 60
- vs Nash: 54
- vs Williams: 51
- vs Telfair: 44
- vs Bibby: 43
- vs Tinsley: 40
- vs Terry: 38
- vs Marbury: 38