NBA: 12 players whose skills ideally match today’s uptempo play style

Gilbert Arenas, Guard (2001-12)

Teams: Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards

Career best stat line: 29.3 points, 2.0 steals, 36% 3PT (2005-06)

Gilbert Arenas is arguably the innovator of having a score-first point guard mentality (Calvin Murphy is in the conversation as well). A trend that we often see in today’s NBA with players like Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Kemba Walker, amongst others.

In the 2005-06 regular season, Arenas averaged 29.3 ppg, 34 ppg in the playoffs, and the following season put up 28.4 ppg. Arenas might have made some questionable decisions off the court and had limited winning seasons, in Washington, but one thing he perfected was putting the ball in the hole.

An attribute that the league heavily values, in 2019. Add in the recent rule changes, and Arenas might’ve averaged close to 40 points per game in today’s game. He was that explosive as a scorer.