The National Basketball Association announced today that Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has been named to the 2005-06 All-NBA Third Team. Arenas was also named to the All-NBA Third Team following the 2004-05 season, and with his selection to this year’s team, Arenas becomes the franchise’s first player since Elvin Hayes (1972-73 through 1976-77) to be named to an All-NBA team in consecutive seasons.

“I am very excited,” said Arenas. “It’s a thrill to be mentioned with the names of the great players that made the team this year, and I’m very proud to be talked about in the same breath as some of the franchise’s all-time legends. Being selected to the All-NBA team is a tribute to the hard work and support of my teammates, as well as our coaches and staff throughout this season. Individual awards are a reflection of the effort of the whole team.”

In his fifth professional season out of the University of Arizona, Arenas helped guide the Wizards to the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season. Washington finished with the Eastern Conference’s fifth-best record and in second place in the Southeast Division.

“We’re very proud of Gilbert’s great accomplishment,” said Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld. “Through hard work and dedication, Gilbert has grown into an elite player in this league. He is a tremendous competitor and this great honor is a testament to his hard work and the effort of the entire team this season.” 

“This is a well-deserved honor for Gilbert,” said Wizards Head Coach Eddie Jordan. “It is great to see Gilbert recognized among the elite players in the game. Gilbert has worked very hard to improve his overall game and he has matured into a complete player.”

Arenas averaged a career-high 29.3 points per game this season and ranked as the NBA’s fourth leading scorer. In an historic season for Arenas, the All-Star guard owned the second-highest single season scoring average in Wizards’ franchise history (Walt Bellamy, 31.6 ppg in 1961-62). He scored at least 30 points in 42 of his 80 games played, and his 11 games with 40+ points this season ranked third in the NBA.

A three-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Arenas also finished among the league leaders in three-point field goals made (2nd), minutes per game (3rd), free throws made (3rd), steals per game (4th) and assists per game (18th), and with his teammates Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, Arenas was a part of the NBA’s highest scoring teammate trio (67.4 ppg).

Arenas was one of 15 players league wide to be selected to one of the three All-NBA teams. Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki and Shaquille O’Neal comprise the First Team while the All-NBA Second Team consists of Chauncey Billups, Dwyane Wade, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace. Arenas is joined by Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Shawn Marion and Yao Ming on the All-NBA Third Team.

The voting panel for the All-NBA Teams consisted of 126 writers and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada who regularly cover the NBA. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. Arenas received 79 points overall.