WASHINGTON -- Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards were fined $15,000 apiece by the NBA yesterday after he ducked out of the team's annual preseason media day, avoiding any discussion of his third left knee operation in 1½ years.

Arenas was penalized "for failing to make himself available to the media," the league said, while Washington was docked the same amount "for failing to ensure that its players comply with NBA media interview rules."

A few of his teammates who did speak wondered aloud about when their All-Star point guard would be back.

"I think probably everybody's worried about that. I think Gil's got to be worried about that," center Brendan Haywood said.

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"It's one of those things. I want to see him bounce back and be the player he was when he averaged 30 points, six assists, and was one of the top five vote-getters in the Eastern Conference. I think he can get back there. The doctors all say he can get back there," Haywood added.

"One thing I'm expecting to happen is that when he comes back, we're going to see Gilbert this year, but we probably won't see Agent Zero until the end of the season," forward Antawn Jamison said, "or maybe towards next year."

Arenas has yet to answer any questions since announcing his $111 million, six-year contract in July. His first public discussion of his latest surgery was supposed to come yesterday, but he was the only Wizards player the media wasn't able to talk to at the team's arena.

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He did show up long enough to pose for photographs, but the team said Arenas cited his knee rehabilitation work in declining to speak. Instead, a Wizards spokesman said, Arenas will address the media today, when the team opens training camp in Richmond.

The Wizards haven't offered any timetable for when Arenas might be able to start practicing. He first had surgery on the left knee in April 2007, then had another operation in November and appeared in only 13 regular-season games last season.

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld, coach Eddie Jordan and several players have been optimistic about playing well until Arenas pulls on a uniform.

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They made the playoffs last season by relying on All-Star forwards Caron Butler and Jamison, veteran guards DeShawn Stevenson and Antonio Daniels, and Haywood.

"We need to go out there and understand that if Gilbert's here, it's a great thing," Stevenson said, "and if not, we're just going to have to work a little bit harder."

Stevenson has spoken to Arenas about what lies ahead.

"We're tight, so obviously, we've talked about it. I know him. I know he's going to work hard. He's not one of them guys who gets his money and goes out the window," Stevenson said.

"So you will see a No. Zero jersey back on the court."