DENVER — It was as if Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison didn’t want to let go of the moment following the 54th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night. The two, along with MVP Allen Iverson, were the last to leave the East’s dressing room.
Arenas hadn’t come close to his promise of winning MVP honors, which went to Iverson for a second time. Arenas had to settle for scoring just seven points on 3-for-11 shooting.
Jamison, who made no such promises, finished with five points and four rebounds ” far short of his season averages but numbers he later would smile about.
In fact, both were giddy in the aftermath of their first All-Star experience.
“It was everything I expected it to be, playing with and against the best guys in the NBA,” Jamison said with a smile. “Every opportunity I could, I just soaked it up. It’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
Arenas also seemed blown away by the opportunity, saying, “I was excited, and I’m still excited. It’s one of those things that you never expect in life, and when it happens you have a hard time believing that it’s really happening for you.
“This is one of those moments in your life where you have to be appreciative,” Arenas continued. “You can’t take it for granted, being recognized as one of the best at what you do. Really, it’s hard to explain what it feels like. All I’ll say is that for anyone who has ever played pickup ball, this is the ultimate pickup game worldwide.”
While Arenas and Jamison have grown used to playing in packed arenas, both acknowledged a certain element to Sunday’s game can’t be duplicated in a regular NBA game.
Although MCI Center games attract a few celebrities from politics and entertainment, they are nothing compared to the hundreds who dotted the courtside in Denver. More obvious is the fact that every player in the game is a star for his respective team.
“Iverson, Kobe, Shaq,” Arenas said. “These are guys that I’ve watched on television in the All-Star Game before. It’s amazing.”
Arenas said being selected would help motivate him when the Wizards (30-22) resume the regular season and try to break a three-game losing streak tomorrow night against Memphis at MCI.
“People are going to come at you tougher now,” Arenas said. “I have to make sure that I remain one of the top 24 players in the league. I have to do that, and at the same time I have to make our team better.”
This probably should have been Jamison’s second or third All-Star Game because he put up better numbers in at least two of his seven seasons. Last season as a reserve in Dallas, Jamison got a taste of what playoff basketball is all about. And his All-Star status notwithstanding, a trip to the postseason with Washington is what he craves most.
“I’ve said all along that the most important thing for me is to play for a championship,” Jamison said. “For all of us, it’s all about doing what we have to do to win. I’m sure we’re going to use this to set the tone for the rest of the season, for me, Gilbert, the coaching staff and the organization. We have to make sure that we play to the level we have in the first half of the season.”
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