Playing practical jokes on his teammates was something Gilbert Arenas enjoyed doing, especially with rookies and younger players. More than anyone else, Nick Young, his teammate of four seasons, was subjected to guard hazing. But he did get his comeuppance, and Arenas paid dearly for it.
In an interview with presenter Dwight Howard for the podcast Above The Rim With DH-12, Young talked about his friendship with the three-time All-Star. In response to a question about whether he ever got even with Arenas for his pranks, the former guard stated:
“We did a lot of stuff to Gil. Took Gil’s credit cards when he told me to go buy something and bought me all kind of s**t… I bought me like two laptops. He told me to go get an iPhone. I said, ‘Cool.’ Bought me an iPhone, a laptop. Two of ‘em actually. He didn’t believe I was going to do it so.”
Young stated that he attempted, but was unable, to use Arenas’ credit card to the fullest. He did, however, rack up hundreds of dollars in debt and even flexed everything he purchased. It was one of the few times he was able to annoy his seasoned teammate. It was usually the opposite way around.
Nick Young talks about Gilbert Arenas’s influence
However, in spite of Arenas’ mistreatment, the two became close friends and developed a great relationship. During an interview on the Gil’s Arenas podcast, Young was asked to characterize the former Wizards star as a teammate. He replied, saying: “Sh*t, hell. F**k that. That ni**a ruined my life. I tell you, he ruined my life…But that’s my dawg. He my dawg. He ruined my life, I tell him that all the time.”
Young could not help but smile as he accused Arenas of ruining his life, demonstrating that their relationship is amicable despite the three-time All-Star’s hazing.
