Gilbert Arenas, the former American professional basketball player, had parents in the form of Gilbert Sr. and Mary Robinson. His parents’ relationship did not go as planned, and neither did they anticipate that the birth of their son would bring a fresh start to their lives. Their marriage ended when Gilbert was just six months old.
As a result, Gilbert moved in with his mother to his grandparents’ home in Florida. When he turned three, his father took him in, significantly altering his life. Gilbert Arenas had a successful career in the NBA, playing for four different clubs, including the Washington Wizards where he achieved great success, averaging over 20.0 points per game in numerous seasons.
Throughout his NBA career, Gilbert received several individual honors, including Most Improved Player and three-time All-Star. However, he never won an NBA championship. After failing to make a return to the NBA, he announced his retirement in 2013 and later ventured into sports media.
The Background of Gilbert Arenas’ Parents: Gilbert Arenas Sr. and Mary Robinson
Gilbert Arenas was born on January 6, 1982, in Tampa, Florida, to Gilbert Arenas Sr. and Mary Robinson. Gilbert Sr., a native of Tampa, met Mary while studying at the University of Miami. They fell in love and had Gilbert while Mary was still a teenager. Until the age of three, Gilbert was raised in Miami by his mother and her family while his father was in college and unemployed. Gilbert Sr. obtained custody of him after Mary was unable to care for him due to drug usage.
His life changed significantly when he moved in with his father. Gilbert Sr., who had a background in college baseball and football, instilled the same determination in him. Gilbert Jr., however, had a greater passion for basketball. When his father relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, he took his son along. Gilbert began playing basketball for his high school team at Ulysses S. Grant High School in California.
Gilbert aspired to play in the NBA from a young age, and his father devoted time to developing his skills, supporting his son’s ambitions. Gilbert expressed his gratitude towards his father for not putting him in foster care and for raising him despite numerous challenges.
Meeting His Mother for the First and Only Time
Having been raised solely by his father following his parents’ divorce, Gilbert had longed to meet his mother. Mary Robinson, however, only made contact with him almost eighteen years later when he was in Miami for a Golden State Warriors game in his second NBA season.
He briefly met her after the game, initially unsure of her identity. After their meeting, he realized she was his biological mother but struggled with how to feel about the encounter. Though she provided him her phone number, he never reached out to her. Mary Robinson passed away on March 13, 2010, at the age of 46, without seeing her son again.
