On Christmas Eve of 2009, Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pulled a gun on teammate Javaris Crittenton in the locker-room. Crittenton answered by drawing a firearm of his own. This standoff was due to a bet that had gone unsettled. Arenas was suspended for the rest of the 2009-2010 season, as was Crittenton. Arenas, with a much higher profile and larger following than Crittenton despite having played in just 15 games the previous two seasons due to injury, received most of the news.
His reputation was hurt by this. He was a fan favorite in Washington, nicknamed “Hibachi”, in reference to the Japanese heating device which translates to a “bowl of fire”, and, ironically, “Agent Zero”, in reference to his number with the Wizards. Before his knees betrayed him, he hit game-winners. His attitude was an entertaining one. He was their franchise player. But, with that incident, his image in the eyes of the Washington franchise soured. Upon returning from suspension he had transformed from a celebrated talent into a mentor to their new face of the franchise, John Wall. He was also a bad contract and a player who admittedly wanted to teach Wall all he could then move on from the organization.
Arenas has found a fresh start, a second chance at his NBA career. If you look at the success of Michael Vick back to the top in particular, our society built around second chances. Arenas’s arrival in Orlando at the age of 28, he has rejuvenated the new-look Magic. The gun incident is in the past, and will be forgotten over time. If he can turn Orlando into a true championship contender is what’s on the minds of many when the topic of Arenas is approached. Arenas has the kind of 
demeanor needed on a team like Orlando he is a proven scorer, leader, hard worker, and he is generally liked by his teammates. That light hearted personality combined with his playing ability has given Orlando the boost they need as the Magic won a franchise tying nine games in a row until dropping back to back games in consecutive nights.
This Magic team can now be considered in the conversation for a championship run, right now Arenas is averaging 9.5 points per game with the Magic. He is improving the chemistry every game with his teammates, and once he finds his role this team will be hard to defend.
