Stephen A. Smith joined Gilbert Arenas on a new episode of Gil’s Arena and addressed the former NBA star’s recent arrest head-on. Known for holding athletes accountable, Smith explained that the same standard applies to former players who have built new careers outside of basketball.
“I got a lot of love for Gil,” Smith began. “If that man says he’s innocent, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. But at the same time, you can’t just disregard the allegations. It’s a very serious matter, and you’ve got to embrace it with the seriousness it deserves.”
Smith emphasized that Arenas’ growing success as a podcaster puts him in a different spotlight than when he was a player. “You ain’t the star basketball player in Washington anymore. This is a different platform and a different game. You’ve got something special here. People see it, and now you’re a target. Welcome to the big time.”
He explained that with visibility comes responsibility, warning Arenas that not everyone watching is rooting for him to win. “There are people jealous of you. They’ll lie on you. They’ll celebrate your trials. They’ll root for your demise. That’s how this works. I know because it happens to me every day.”
Drawing from his own experience in media, Smith contrasted his position with Arenas’ learning curve. “I’ve been doing this for 30-plus years. I wake up knowing I’m a target. I’m comfortable with it because I’ve been through it. But this is still new for you. You’ve got to elevate your level of play.”
Smith also pointed out the power dynamics at play in the media and corporate world. “People run their mouths about me, but they don’t realize the executives are watching. They’re the ones saying, ‘We don’t need him—we’ve got Stephen A.’ You’ve got to understand the game you’re in. Sometimes you just let people kill themselves.”
By the end of his message, Smith made it clear his tough love came from respect. While Arenas’ playing days are behind him, his platform is growing—and with it, the expectations and scrutiny.
“Gil’s got something brilliant going on,” Smith said. “Now it’s about protecting it.”
Source: Gil's Arena
