Washington Wizards’ point guard and adidas endorser Gilbert Arenas aka Agent Zero was in Manila for the adidas Agent Zero Tour 2008. He has collaborated with adidas with its thrust for Brotherhood and the core values of basketball and have come up with the Gil II Zero collection including the Gil Zero shoes and clothing apparel. We caught up with him to chat about his own sneakers customization realm, upcoming NBA season and USA basketball team.
Hey Gilbert, we know you are in Asia promoting your TS Lightswitch Gil. How did adidas propose the multiple versions of TS Lightswith Gil to you? This might be the single most version of basketball sneakers among many adidas models?
Actually it was my idea to approach adidas. I have like tons of designs and collabs in my head. So I just told them what I wanted to do with TS Lightswitch and they just took my idea!!
So how much freedom you have with the adidas design team in terms of design creativity for TS LightSwitch series?
They gave me all the freedom I want but you know some of the designs aren’t realistic enough. We had to sit down and brainstorm over how to put each design on to TS LightSwitch to fit perfectly. It was a really fun experience working with adidas design team.
So you have like tons of TS Lightswitch Gil, which is your favourite? It must be tough to choose one.
I would go with the Benihana x Adidas Hibachi TS Lightswtich, it pays homage to my jumper. Since last season during a game with Dallas Mavericks, I shouted HIBACHI everytime I made a shot (means YOU JUST GOT GRILLED BY AGENT ZERO). And Benihana is my favourite Japanese restaurant and that’s where I learned Hibachi from.
What is your favourite all time adidas sneakers aside from TS Lightswitch?
It has to be the adidas Crazy 8! The first time I saw Kobe in them, I wanted them so bad!!
Back to NBA, we know how much you wanted to Wizards to resign Antawn Jamison. Now that he’s signed and you kept your words by signing with the Wizards, do you think Wizards have what it takes to have a deep run for NBA Playoff ’09?
The key factor here for us is staying healthy throughout the season. All three of us (Antawn, Caron and Gilbert) have to stay healthy for the whole season in order to make a deep playoff run. There’s never a doubt about our team chemistry. We just need to stay healthy, play hard and stay focus into the season.
If you could wish for one more player to be on Washington Wizards, Who would he be?
How I wish we could get Jermaine O’neal for our inside presence. A big player would actually open up more outside shots for us. And he is also a good defensive player and we need to step up on our interior defense. Oh well how I wish…
Your favourite NBA player of all time?
Penny Hardaway, he was just making a killing when he came into NBA with his 6’7” frame and dishing like Magic Johnson. He even took Orlando Magic (with Shaq) to NBA final back then. It was just so fun to watch him play.
Talk about coming into the league, is it true that all rookies who just enter the league have to do chores like carry bags and wake up at wee hours to buy coffee for the team veterans?
Yes of course, no matter how big name you are coming into a league as a rookie, you have to do all these chores. It’s like a tradition. I was made to buy donuts and coffee like a few blocks away from the stadium 2 hours before practice start (around 6am) and no one even wanted them when I bought them. They just made me do it for the sake of it. There are worse chores but I can’t tell you. Haha.
I am sure you get asked a lot about USA basketball team, but we really wanna know what USA team has to do to secure a gold medal in this coming Olympic?
I really think they have a good chance of bringing home the gold medal. This team has a good balance of offense and defense. With addition of Boozer and Bosh, they have more frontcourt depth. With Michael Redd and Tayshaun Prince, they have good outside shooters who can also play defense. Not to mention the superstars like Dwight, Kobe, Lebron, Dwayne, Melo and others. I just think they need to make their outside shot and play solid defense especially on the opponent’s shooters. I really want to see them bringing home the gold.
Thank you Agent Zero. Good luck to the new NBA season and the Washington Wizards. We can’t wait to see you on the court again.
(Speical thanks to adidas Malaysia)
Full Preview of TS LightSwitch Gil Zero after the Jump
The “Vote for Gilbert” speaks for itself in brushed gold and matte black suede, this shoe is fit for every MVP.
The all-black leather shoe designed for the original east coast assassin, which he called “Agent Zero” features a liner of the map of Washington D.C.
Looney Tunes specials Tweety created for his son Alijah Amani Arenas.
Looney Tunes specials Bugs Bunny created for his son Alijah Amani Arenas.
“Channel Zero” marks Agent Zero’s appearances on television.
The Benihana “Hibachi” is a name creatively devised by Gil Arenas in collaboration with Benihana.
The Black President is a black shoe with pinstripe pattern with the words “In Gilbert We Trust” on the strap, with “The Black House” pictured in the liner and a heel that features the Black President Seal.
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