Stephen A. Smith is urging former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas to stop making light of his recent federal indictment, warning that the stakes are far too serious for jokes.
On a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the ESPN host addressed a viral clip in which Arenas quipped that people connected to Smith tend to get arrested. Smith responded with a sharp rebuke, urging Arenas to grasp the gravity of the legal trouble he’s facing.
“Bro, I need you not to play around,” Smith said. “I don’t want to see you behind bars. That’s not something to laugh about. When the feds come raiding your home, it’s not a joke.”
Smith emphasized that Arenas’ comments could jeopardize future opportunities. “You’ve got people like me, ESPN, Underdog, and multiple sponsors that want to work with you,” he said. “But not if you’re making light of federal charges.”
Smith also revisited Arenas’ infamous 2009 incident with teammate Javaris Crittenton, when the two brought firearms into the Washington Wizards locker room. Arenas later mimicked firing guns during pre-game introductions, which led then-NBA Commissioner David Stern to suspend him indefinitely.
“You were clowning like it was all fun,” Smith said. “Now you’re doing the same thing again.”
Arenas was indicted July 31 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. He is accused of operating an illegal gambling ring out of a Los Angeles mansion from 2021 to 2022.
Federal prosecutors allege Arenas rented the Encino property to host high-stakes poker games and instructed co-defendant Arthur Kats to manage the operation. Another co-defendant, Yevgeni Gershman, believed to have ties to Israeli organized crime, was also charged.
All six defendants face charges of conspiracy and illegal gambling. Arenas also faces an additional count of lying to federal investigators.
Following his release, Arenas livestreamed a flippant recap of his detainment, joking about “snitching” and mocking jail conditions. Smith, however, remained adamant:
“This isn’t a joke. It’s not funny to the people watching—and it shouldn’t be funny to you.”
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