Gilbert Arenas thinks NBA superstars are entering the regular season without getting ready for the intensity it carries, as he argued that insufficient offseason work and very limited preseason preparation are contributing to the league’s early injury problems.

Speaking on Gil’s Arena, the former All-Star questioned whether players are getting the training at the speed they need once meaningful regular-season games begin.

“As a guy who is a track runner, and I’m looking at the history of the game, the early 2000s, ’90s, ’80s, ’70s, ’60s, star players didn’t get hurt this much.”

“There’s a reason the stars are getting hurt this much, because what happens is, if you’re not properly training and getting in shape, and you’re just letting them in their summer, looking good, coming to the season, bullshit through training camp, and then go out in the game and play against another superstar, that superstar is gonna go 100 for the first time, and that is what’s happening.

“Like, it’s the superstars are getting hurt because the superstar speed when a season starts is coming out the gate. Hali, coming out the gate, right? These, like, they’re coming out of the gate, and they didn’t do it yet. It’s like, I don’t understand how they don’t understand this. Your guys are going 50, 60% right now. They look good. When the game starts and season one counts, they’re going 100, but never pushed the engine to 100.”

“So now you got all these pulls and stuff. Everybody else opting to date, they can mosey on through it. The superstars going 100, and that’s why they’re going down the most. So it’s like, yo, y’all got to, y’all, I would make a longer training camp, go back to longer training camp or preseason two-a-days.”

“And then, and then, yo, like, or if you don’t want to, coaches, training camp used to be two weeks, right? Yeah, two weeks.”

“Like a month, like, if, yeah, all the coaches, make your superstars play more in preseason then, right? Because the injuries that they’re having, that little groin pull, a little hammy hurt, that happens in training camp. But those are my training camp injuries.”

His argument centered on the differences between looking sharp in controlled workouts and handling the demands of competing against another superstar.

In his view, players can move through summer sessions and training camps without experiencing the intensity they immediately encounter on opening night. Arenas specifically referenced Tyrese Haliburton, whose return from a season-long absence has already been interrupted by a mild left hamstring strain.

Haliburton played four games after missing the previous campaign while recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon. The Pacers’ coach indicated that his return within two weeks was unlikely, while emphasizing that the team would proceed cautiously.

Arenas even proposed an extended training camp, a return to two-a-day preseason sessions, and giving stars more exhibition minutes. These comments come at a time when the league is dealing with a difficult opening few weeks.

Detroit Pistons‘ Jalen Duren and Charlotte Hornets‘ Kon Knueppel have dealt with hamstring strains, while Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero could miss nearly a month with a high ankle sprain.

Minnesota Timberwolves‘ Anthony Edwards faces an extended two-month absence following a knee procedure. Utah Jazz’s Jaren Jackson Jr. could also miss six to eight weeks with a knee ligament injury, while Lauri Markkanen has also dealt with a wrist issue. Toronto Raptors‘ Kawhi Leonard is also set to miss weeks after a reported knee swelling.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have suffered some serious setbacks as well. Jalen Williams required surgery for a fractured leg and damaged ankle ligaments, while Cason Wallace faces a lengthy recovery following shoulder surgery.

But these different injuries should not automatically be grouped under Arenas’ explanation. His comments offer a theory about preparation, not evidence that any particular player trained poorly or that insufficient conditioning caused these setbacks.

A longer season would require teams to balance preparation with recovery, especially for players who are coming back from major injuries.

More practice time alone would not establish that a player is ready for unrestricted competition. Still, Arenas raises a very legitimate basketball question: How can teams prepare their best players for regular-season intensity before the results begin to count?

His answer is greater exposure to demanding basketball even beforehand.

Whether that approach would reduce injuries remains to be seen, but the number of important players already unavailable ensures that the conversation about preparation and workload will definitely continue.