Racist chants and player abuse are things that prevail in the NBA even now. The fans sometimes use it to get under the skin of their rival players. They also do it to cause a lapse in their focus.

Gilbert Arenas was a popular figure during his playing days for the Washington Wizards. He made three All-Star appearances in his 12-year career.

Arenas as a player has undergone several racist chants against him and he clearly remembers one such incident which went viral. 

Gilbert Arenas and his racist encounter in the NBA

Arenas and the Wizards team were in Boston to play against the Celtics. One Boston fan particularly tried to get under his skin, he recalls.

“In Boston, a fan was calling me the N-word. I said, Imma bust your team ass and it will be your fault,” said Arenas.

He remembers his duel with the fan and how they both would engage in words after he had scored a basket. 

“Every time I scored I said it is your fault. Every time I missed (he said) you suck, piece of s***,” added Arenas.

The Wizards played well during the second half and they were up by quite a margin in the fourth quarter. 

“In the 4th we’re up 15, I get subbed out and looked at him and said, N**ga lover, you have a Paul Pierce jersey on. He started laughing and said you got me. Every game after that he had a Wizards ‘0’ jersey on,” explained Arenas.

The Isaiah Thomas incident

Arenas brought this story into light a few months back after former Wizards Point Guard Isaiah Thomas ejected into the crowd to confront two Philadelphia 76ers fans who were cursing at him. Thomas certainly lost his cool and went several rows into the crowd and got into a heated argument with them.

This resulted in Thomas being suspended for two games without pay and the Sixers fans receiving a one year ban.

Arenas publically stated what Thomas did was wrong. Furthermore, he stated that players should be less sensitive when on the court. At any rate, Arenas thinks players should develop a thicker skin when it comes to these matters.