DECEMBER 25TH: Arenas confirmed to TMZ.com that he is indeed training in the hopes of making a comeback in 2014. According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Sulia link), Arenas is aiming to return to the NBA as early as this season.
DECEMBER 13TH: Despite a few fall rumors that suggested the Clippers were eyeing Gilbert Arenas as a possible camp invitee, Arenas himself has exhibited little interest recently in returning to the NBA, expressing a preference to play in China instead. But while Arenas may not play in the NBA in 2013/14, he also hasn’t ruled out trying to make a comeback. In an interview with Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, the former All-Star indicated he’ll try to make a team for the 2014/15 season.
“Next summer, I’m going to train really hard and then try to make a team,” Arenas said. “I’m going to try to come back.”
Arenas went on to suggest a few teams he thinks could use his services in the short-term, including the Knicks, Bulls, and Lakers, but assuming he’s eyeing a summer comeback, those specific clubs may no longer have backcourt holes that need filling.
The longtime Wizard hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since the 2011/12 season, when he played in 17 contests with the Grizzlies. However, he’s still just 31 years old, and showed last season in China that he can still put the ball in the basket. In 14 games for the Shanghai Sharks, Arenas averaged 20.7 PPG and 7.3 APG. Assuming he’s in basketball shape during the 2014 offseason, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he at least received a camp invite from an NBA team.