Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is calling on the next generation of players to adopt a different approach to in-season development.
In a recent appearance on the Hear District podcast, Arenas detailed the pitfalls many athletes face once the regular season begins—ranging from partying to neglecting training routines.
“Right now, the season is the pitfall for a lot of players,” Arenas said, via HoopsHype, explaining that distractions such as travel, nightlife, and lack of family presence contribute to declining focus and discipline.
He emphasized that while many players relax once the season starts, the smartest ones double down on their offseason habits to gain an edge.
Rather than falling into what he called the “typical NBA routine,” Arenas built a personal system to stay locked in. That meant sticking to his three-a-day workouts even while traveling with the team.
“I’m only going out once a year,” he noted, adding that he avoided nightlife in cities like Miami and New York altogether to maintain peak performance.
Arenas credited this strategy as a turning point early in his career, saying he saw how veterans would routinely slack off during the grind of the season.
That contrast motivated him to isolate from distractions and focus on outworking his peers—especially once he learned Kobe Bryant was hitting the gym at 3:00 a.m.
“I didn’t even know what the ‘first bus’ was. Never seen it,” Arenas said. “Right after practice, I’d take a nap, then hop in a cab around 2:30 or 3:00 and head to the gym—because I heard Kobe was at the gym at 3:00.”
He now urges young athletes to follow suit, stressing that replicating offseason intensity during the regular season is key to accelerated growth.
Arenas also warned against mimicking the habits of more established players too early, arguing that players still trying to prove themselves cannot afford to coast.
“If you want to get better and feel like you’re being underestimated, create a system during the season that helps you grow,” he said.
The former Washington Wizards guard, who averaged over 20 points per game for six straight seasons, believes structured self-discipline—not talent—is what separates stars from role players.
