Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr., an American former professional basketball player of the NBA, was born to Cuban parents.
The NBA All-Star was born on January 6, 1982, in Tampa, Florida, United States, to father Gilbert Arenas Sr. and mother Mary Robinson.
Although Arenas’ paternal grandparents were from Spain, his great-grandfather was a Cuban and has his ancestry in Cuba.
His family’s life drastically changed when his parents separated when Gilbert Arenas was 6 months old.
Furthermore, following the separation of his parents, Gilbert Arenas initially lived with his mother, Mary Robinson, and her family.
However, at age three, Gilbert moved in with his father, Gilbert Sr., and his paternal grandparents.
Gilbert Arenas Sr. played a significant role in shaping his son Gilbert Arenas’ life and career!
Gilbert Arenas, the former NBA star and Washington Wizards legend owes much of his success to his father, Gilbert Sr.
Moreover, after his mother, Mary, abandoned Gilbert as a toddler without hesitation, his father took great care of him.
While Arenas’ father was attending college in Florida, he received a call that Mary had disappeared, leaving Gilbert alone.
Authorities informed Gilbert’s father that if he didn’t step in, young Gilbert would be placed in foster care.
Similarly, without even thinking twice, his father dropped everything, traveled to Miami, and took custody of his son.
Unfortunately, the father so faced homelessness and lived in the park for months with just $30 in their pockets.
However, despite the emotional toll, Arenas’ father worked tirelessly to provide for him.
After dropping out of college, his father pursued an acting career in California.
Eventually, when the pressure of raising a child in such circumstances became overwhelming, Arenas’ father sent him back to Florida to live with his grandmother for a few years.
Once he was more established, he brought Arenas back to California, where the young boy began his basketball journey.
Though Arenas faced many obstacles in his early years, his father’s love and determination gave him the foundation to rise above them.
Arenas often admires his father’s ability to overcome challenges, saying, “Shout out to my dad for stepping up. Without him, who knows where I’d be today?“
Gilbert Arenas’ relationship with his mother, Mary Robinson, remained strained!
Gilbert Arenas has a strained and distant relationship with his mother, Mary Robinson.
She was absent for much of his life, and he only saw her once at 19.
Furthermore, When asked about his mother, Arenas admitted he rarely thought about her while growing up.
He explained that he never needed to question her absence because he had a father who was always present.
Arenas said, “All my friends had mothers, and I had a father who always wanted to be around me, so I figured I was the golden child.“
In case you didn’t know
- Gilbert Arenas began his basketball journey at Ulysses S. Grant High School and later joined the University of Arizona for his college career.
- He retired in 2013 after playing for Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association for a year.
- Gilbert Arenas has four children with Laura Govan, whom he dated from 2002 until 2014.
- His son Alijah is a 5-star prospect in the class of 2026, and his daughter Izela is the 88th-ranked prospect in 2024 committed to Louisville.
- Gilbert Arenas announced his engagement to French social media influencer Melli Monaco in July 2024.
