Arenas returns to Wizards focused on winning title

[July 23, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Gilbert Arenas got the money. Now he wants the ring. Arenas, who signed a franchise-record six-year, $111-million contract with Washington nine days ago, met the media for the first time Tuesday and said he will be more focused and do anything needed to help the Wizards win an NBA title.

Arenas is a three-time All-Star who's averaged 22.8 points in his seven-year career, but has been slowed by knee injuries the past two seasons. He had two knee operations in 2007, missed 66 games last season and then needed to stop playing during Washington's first-round playoff loss against Cleveland.

But Arenas said he's feeling good now, will get back on the court Aug. 1 and thinks the Wizards -- when healthy -- are one of the NBA's top five teams. Now he wants to help prove it.

"We just have a great group of guys," Arenas said. "We're going to put a banner up there, a championship banner. We're going to do it for (team owner Abe) Pollin."

Arenas said the city of Washington embraced him. He said he was a "young hothead" when coming to town but now's the time to focus more on doing his job and helping the Wizards get a shot at winning a championship.

"I do all the little things I do out there (and that) is going come to a halt," Arenas said. "I just need to cut out some of the foolishness I do. I create hype but some of the other stuff, I know I've got to calm down."

Pollin joked about how he didn't use the best negotiating skills when talking with Arenas.

"I said 'Gilbert, you will never ever wear a jersey other than the Wizards -- never,'" Pollin said. "I know talent, and I know what Gilbert can do. I told him 'Gilbert, we're going to pay you a lot of money and all you have to do is win a championship.'"

Arenas negotiated his own deal, one that drew some attention when it was revealed that the Wizards actually offered him $127 million, but that he took a lesser contract to give Washington room under the NBA's luxury tax limit to possibly bring in another player.

"It's really unheard of for a player to do the kind of things that he did and make the sacrifice for the team that he did," team president Ernie Grunfeld said. "He left money on the table, and hopefully that gives us more flexibility; it's going to help us down the road."

This was a day filled with love for the unpredictable point guard. Some members of the Wizards staff were wearing t-shirts saying "Agent Zero" on the front and "I'm Back" on the back.

The Verizon Center video boards were flasing a variety of messages like "Welcome Back Gilbert Arenas," "Welcome Back Gil," and showing different highlights from his Wizards career.

In addition, Arenas received cheers when walking into the press conference -- and he entered wearing a huge grin.

"This is where I belong," Arenas said. "This is where I need to be. This is where I need to finish my legacy."

[Associated Press]

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