Kobe Bryant’s parents came under fire this week when it was revealed that they put one of his championship rings up for auction.
Although the ring wasn’t actually Kobe’s, but one that he gifted to his dad, the move still rubbed some folks the wrong way.
This week, Gilbert Arenas spoke out on the topic and offered an alternative perspective.
In Arenas’ estimation, Bryant’s parents can’t be blamed for their decision to sell off his memorabilia and items.
“You can’t be mad at the parents on this one. They broke. They got no money,” he said.
Gilbert Arenas doesn’t have a problem with Kobe’s parents selling his rings
“They broke. They got no money. You can’t be mad because they’re selling the rings. The money wasn’t left to them. They tryna eat.”
(h/t @NBABeyondCourt )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 20, 2024
ESPN Star Molly Qerim’s See-Through Dress Causes A Stir: https://t.co/1H7yUmBJYN
— Game 7 (@game7__) March 19, 2024
“You can’t be mad because they’re selling the rings. The money wasn’t left to them. They trying to eat.”
Understandably, Arenas’ take on the matter was divisive.
If they’re “tryna eat”, then go get a job.
Those rings were gifted by their child with the intent that they would maintain some semblance of sentimentality and keep them. Not to hock at a local pawn shop.
— The NBA Realist (@nbarealist23) March 20, 2024
Y’all have to understand that Gil was never an NBA champ. He’ll jump for anything that diminishes the sentimental value of a ring. He always speaks of contract money and being a star over being a champ so as to justify his career.
— Khwezi (@Khwezi_bass) March 20, 2024
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— Game 7 (@game7__) March 16, 2024
Arenas then took things one step further and blamed Vanessa for what has transpired.
“It’s her job to call them to take that off their hands because they’re obviously just trying to survive. And [Vanessa] is just sitting over there with the grandkids, billion-dollar industry. All they have is their son’s legacy, and when you’re trying to pay bills and eat, that legacy don’t mean anything,” Arenas added said.
“So once she sees it hit the net when it hit the auction, she should have brought that check, bring that back to the house and then say, ‘Anything you got over there, that belongs to your son, it belongs to his kids, and we will take that off your hands.”
Vanessa is obviously no stranger to being in the headlines. Between her party photos with Kim Kardashian and wild girls’ night photos with La La Anthony, she has been trending nonstop lately.
Arenas, meanwhile, has made it a point to talk about Kobe a lot ever since he started podcasting. Between the now-infamous trash-talking story and him describing the time he purposely sabotaged an opportunity to join the Lakers, Kobe is a common theme in his conversations.
Will Vanessa ultimately opt to respond to Arenas’ statements at some point? Time will tell.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
