Former Wizard Gilbert Arenas is trying to turn a new leaf following the
tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his friend and global basketball icon.
Arenas posted a heartfelt ode to Bryant two days after his death, saying it was time for him to use his basketball IQ more productively to help grow the game. Arenas then announced he would be joining the Southern California
CAVS Youth Basketball Program as a coach.
A post shared by
Gilbert Arenas (@no.chill.gil) on Jan 28, 2020 at 11:47am PST
Arenas kept his word, posting a news story on his Instagram page Monday night that aired on CBS Los Angeles about him honoring Bryant, as well as contributing to help grow youth basketball.
In the clip, Arenas is shown leading a dribbling drill, telling a young boy with the basketball to "keep your eyes up."
"I decided I wanted to coach because (Bryant) kept telling me to 'tap in to it,'" Arenas told reporters.
A post shared by
Gilbert Arenas (@no.chill.gil) on Feb 10, 2020 at 1:59pm PST
Arenas said Bryant would continually ask him whether he had begun coaching when the two were at the Bryant's
Mamba Coaching Academy discussing Arenas' daughter potentially joining.
"That's what really hurt me the most," Arenas insisted. "The person who told me to coach over and over, and then when I decided to accept my new journey, he was gone."
