Click here to Skip to main content
LATEST HEADLINES - NBA NEWS

NBA fines Arenas, Wizards for not talking to media


Posted Oct 13 2009 11:29PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The NBA made point guard Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards pay for his silence by fining both $25,000 apiece on Tuesday.

Arenas has not been talking to the media during the preseason, including before and after exhibition games.

The three-time All-Star became one of the NBA's most popular players thanks in part to his engaging personality and a willingness to speak his mind, including via a wide-ranging blog.

But he stopped producing the blog and steadfastly has been refusing to do interviews since the Wizards held their official media day on Sept. 28. Asked by a reporter last week when he'd begin speaking again, Arenas said it would happen only after the NBA tells him he has to talk.

It was at that media day that Arenas signaled his intention to keep quiet, declaring, "I'm not the entertainer anymore."

"I don't feel like speaking anymore. I just want to go out there and play," he said that day. "If I'm not going to get fined, I don't think you're going to hear me again. I don't have a blog. I don't have a tweeter. When I was entertaining, all you guys focused on was my words. Now I'd rather you just focus on my basketball."

Team spokesman Scott Hall said on Tuesday that neither Arenas nor the Wizards would have any comment on the fines.

After scoring 24 points in the Wizards' 101-98 exhibition victory over Detroit on Tuesday, Arenas twice declined to comment on the fine.

"Both teams played hard," he said, offering few words in the locker room after the game. "I feel fine."

Arenas is returning after playing a total of only 15 games during the past two seasons following three operations on his left knee over 1 1/2 years. The last surgery came in September 2008, and later that month, Arenas ducked out of Washington's media day without talking -- drawing fines of $15,000 each for him and his team.

Arenas is entering the second season of an $111 million, six-year contract.

His health is considered key to the Wizards' turning things around after a 19-63 season in 2008-09.

SEARCH NEWS
HEADLINES

VIDEOS
photoAmar'e Teardrop Tattoo
Amar?e Stoudemire honors his late brother Hazell by getting a teardrop tattoo just under his right eye.
photoGibson Slam
Ronnie Brewer passes to Taj Gibson for the monster slam.
photoHawks vs. Lakers
Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum both notch double-doubles in the Lakers' 86-78 win over the Hawks.
photoEvans Circus Shot
Tryeke Evans drives the paint, gets the circus shot to fall and gets the foul.
photoPlay of the Day
Jeremy Lin nails the game winning 3-point shot with .9 seconds left and scores a game high 27 points and 11 assists.
photoThe Fan Night Zap
Check out all the action from Fan Night in the NBA!
photoFan Night Top 10
Jeremy Lin's Game-winning 3-pointer headlines the Fan Night's Top 10 plays.
photoFan Night-ly Notable
Jeremy Lin nails the game winning 3-point shot with .9 seconds left and scores a game high 27 points and 11 assists.
photoBlock of the Night
LeBron James deflects the pass, gets the block and saves the loose ball all on the same defensive possession.
photoDunk of the Night
Nicolas Batum drives straight down the paint and gives JaVale McGee a facial.

Copyright © NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the Privacy Policy / Your California Privacy Rights and Terms of Use. | Ad Choices Ad Choices

NBA.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network.