"It only works for the gifted": Gilbert Arenas replies to former NBA All-Star debating Alijah Arenas and Byce James' high school career choices 

Gilbert Arenas is known for bold and, often, controversial takes. In one episode of his podcast, he claimed that championships are not worth much for high school players aiming to be recruited.

This was why he placed his son, Alijah Arenas, in the public school system so he would know how to carry a team. The take, posted on an Instagram handle on Saturday, has fans divided, many agreeing with him while others do not.

This sparked a massive debate between him and former two-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion David West in the comments section. The former Golden State Warrior disagreed with Gilbert Arenas' take, saying in a comment on the post on Sunday that coaches want winners.

"College coaches absolutely want winners. They want compliant, mature guys who know how to win and understand winning is an everyday mindset. 2nd, everybody's path is different. Can't put every kid or athlete in the same script and it work," said the two-time NBA champion.

David West disagrees with Gilbert Arenas (Source: Instagram/jefeisland)

This initiated a heated debate with the former Washington Wizard, who claimed that a lot of championship-winning five-stars are now just roleplayers. This, he believes, is because they never developed the instincts to take over a game. Gilbert Arenas responded with an unusually long comment about high school superteams.

"it only works for the gifted! ... all the superstars in the NBA u should go back and look at their highschool teams! All the passive players u complain why they don't take over look at their high school teams (super teams) Super teams in highschool create the perfect ROLE PLAYERS!"

He continued:

"What do u think happens to kids in my son situation? they have to do everything to try and win! ... they learn how to win when they win the game becuz what they had to do to get that win!" replied Gilbert Arenas.

Gilbert Arenas answers David West part 1 (Source: Instagram/jefeisland)

Gilbert Arenas answers David West part 2 (Source: Instagram/jefeisland)

Gilbert Arenas answers David West part 3 (Source: Instagram/jefeisland)

Alijah Arenas' team, Chatsworth, has lost four of its last five games. However, the five-star had repeatedly scored over 30 points during that stretch, including dropping 40 in a losing effort to Long Beach Poly last Thursday.

David West replies to Gilbert Arenas' comment

Meanwhile, David West had a more measured answer to Arenas' long comment, saying that all kids are different and have to develop at their own pace. He wrote on Sunday.

"@no.chill.gil I don't think there is an exact science. A kid has to be the goods to take the path of carrying the load every game from day 1. I think you have to have gifts and a mindset to do that before you get there.

"In high school u should def have to carry the load to develop certain character traits but every kids don't have the gifts to do this. No way a kid scoring 25 ppg and winning 5 games a season helps," replied David West.

David West replies to Gilbert Arenas' long comment

West added that kids who win more have an upper hand and admitted that four and five-stars who have never been on their own often do crash out. Yet, he reminded everyone that some kids develop at their own pace.