During his time in the NBA, Gilbert Arenas earned three All-Star appearances, three All-NBA selections, and the 2002-03 Most Improved Player of the Year award.
Around the time he won that award, Arenas was apparently in talks to join one of the most historic teams of the era: the Miami Heat.
Speaking on his Gil’s Arena show, Arenas said that he almost joined Dwyane Wade in Miami.
“My free agent year was the year he got drafted. Miami was coming after me,” Arenas said.
Arenas would have had a homecoming if he had been selected by the Heat.
He was born in Tampa, Florida, although he was raised in southern California.
The Heat were well aware of his ties to the state and that was one of the reasons they were keen on the concept of signing him.
They imagined a backcourt that was led by both the rookie Wade and the more experienced Arenas.
At that point in his career, Arenas was averaging 18.3 points and 6.3 assists per game.
That would have made him a perfect partner to work alongside Wade, who was just learning the ropes of the NBA.
If Arenas would have signed a deal with the Heat, it means he would have been there the year later when Shaquille O’Neal joined too.
And he would have likely been there just one season after when they won the NBA Finals.
Instead, Pat Riley didn’t feel comfortable paying Arenas his asking price and the signing never came together.
Arenas then moved to the Washington Wizards, where he would spend the majority of the rest of his career.
Now, all these years later, fans will be wondering about what extra success the team could have had if Arenas joined it.
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