Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has carved out a solid second act in sports media with Gil's Arena. But recent comments from the ex-Washington Wizards guard suggest trouble behind the scenes with his partners at Underdog. In a candid livestream, Arenas admitted he's not sure if the company even likes him anymore, fueling speculation about his future in the industry.
“I’m not sure they like ME anymore. I just, I don’t know,” Arenas said. “I’m just going to let you all know. No different than NBA. Just remember this, chat, words are powerful, just like in the NBA. When people start writing the team is better without them, that player reads it, that player believes it, that player starts acting like it.”
The drama escalated when Arenas missed Wednesday's episode of his own show, and longtime sports analyst Skip Bayless filled in. Bayless has reportedly joined Underdog to potentially co-host a football show with Arenas, but fans saw the substitution as a red flag. Arenas later hinted that producers might think the show doesn't need him at all.
“If you all saying this show is better without me and the producers say, ‘Hey, fans, they don’t care if he’s here or not.’ But I’m on vacation, so I don’t need to be at work. I’m Finals. I think I’m on Finals duty, not this one,” Arenas added.
The tension dates back to October, when Arenas revealed he sold 50% of Gil's Arena to Underdog. As part of the deal, Underdog handles staff salaries and channel management, and the show was cut to just two episodes per week. Now, Arenas fears the company may sideline him entirely—and he may have little say in the matter.
Fans have been quick to weigh in, with many blaming Arenas for making a poor business decision. “Sounds like Gil conducted bad business. Something that you start, you should never give a company a percentage or sign anything that they control how often the show takes place,” one user wrote on X. Another declared, “No one who’s an actual fan believes it’s better without Gil.”
The situation echoes a broader pattern in sports media where creators lose control after selling stakes. It's a cautionary tale similar to the recent criticism of Stephen A. Smith or the tennis stars' media boycott over revenue splits. For Arenas, the question is whether he can remain the face of a show that bears his name.
“And this why Twitter got on his (expletive) about selling his majority ownership stake cuz at any moment they can decide you not it anymore,” wrote a third user. Another fan summed it up: “Unpopular opinion I’ve been saying it I stopped watching the show because Gil‘s not on it. It’s called Gil Arena for a reason.”
As the sports world watches, Arenas’ media future hangs in the balance. Whether Underdog will push him out or find a way to keep him remains unclear, but one thing is certain: the conversation isn't going away.
