Gilbert Arenas, an American former professional basketball player, hilariously mistakes Austin Rivers for Andrew Tate on his 2023 podcast, Gil’s Arena.
They were discussing Rivers’s take on Damian Lillard’s trade request out of Portland.
Gilbert Arenas began playing basketball at Ulysses S. Grant High School and accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Arizona late in his junior year.
He entered the 2001 NBA draft, forgoing his last two years at college, and the Golden State Warriors selected him in the second round with the 31st overall pick.
Later, he joined the Washington Wizards, where he became a three-time NBA All-Star and three-time member of the All-NBA Team.
Arenas was traded to the Orlando Magic on December 18, 2010, but was waived after the end of the 2011 NBA lockout under the amnesty clause.
Afterward, he signed his final season in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2011–12 NBA season.
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Gilbert Arenas Hilarious Mix-Up NBA Superstar’s Austin Rivers For Andrew Tate
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas caused a stir in 2023 by confusing a fellow basketball player with a controversial internet personality.
He confused Austin Rivers for Andrew Tate during his podcast, Gill’s Arena.
On the podcast, the discussion was about comments made by NBA guard Austin Rivers.
If you’re a free agent, then you can choose where you’re gonna go. That’s the business. But when you’re not and you sign a deal… that’s part of the business. If you get traded somewhere, you gotta go play.
Austin Rivers
The conversation was serious, focusing on Damian Lillard’s trade request. However, things took a confusing turn when a co-host mentioned how Rivers would review their podcast.
Arenas was quick to react, blurting out, “I thought he was in jail.“
After a moment, the former Washington Wizards star realized his mistake.
He had confused Austin Rivers with the controversial figure Andrew Tate, who was facing a litany of charges stemming from allegations of human trafficking in Romania in 2022.
Oh, I thought that was Andrew Tate.
Gilbert Arenas
Austin Rivers and Andrew Tate do share a similar look, making the mix-up somewhat understandable.
After the laughter died down, the podcast quickly returned to its regular basketball business, leaving everyone with a memorable and hilarious blunder.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr., the son of Gilbert Arenas Sr and Mary Francis Robinson, was born on January 6, 1982, in Tampa, Florida.
- He was nicknamed “Agent Zero,” due to his jersey number (0) while playing with the Washington Wizards.
- He has four children with Laura Govan and married French social media influencer Melli Monaco on January 20, 2025.
