“With the 31st Pick in the NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select Gilbert Arenas, from the University of Arizona.”

That announcement was not made by Commissioner David Stern, but former Deputy Commissioner Russ Granick. David Stern only makes the announcements for the 1st round of the NBA Draft. Gilbert Arenas was not selected in the first round. He was the second player selected in the second round of the 2001 Draft. The same draft that Kwame Brown was the #1 overall pick. Being selected in the first round meant a guaranteed contract. Second round picks didn’t have any assurances.

When Gilbert told his dad that he was thinking of leaving college early and going to the NBA Gilbert Arenas Sr. called around to see the level of interest in his son and where he might get picked. As all too often in the NBA, players declare for the draft after receiving assurances that he would be a first-round or lottery pick. Gilbert Arenas was no exception. He had received assurances that he would be drafted in the first round. He bought himself a brand new Cadillac Escalade and customized it by adding more than $50,000 in accessories.

When the first round passed without him Arenas being drafted, he threw his newly purchased jewelry out the window, turned off the TV, called then-Arizona assistant Rodney Tention and cried. He wanted to go back to school and return his car. When told that the Golden State Warriors drafted him No. 31, Arenas said: “That’s the worst mistake the NBA has made. I’m going to the gym right now.”