Arenas Part II was supposed to be the triumphant return but, as domost sequels, proved disappointing. The guard endured two more surgeries and two more failed comebacks.

The Washington Wizards are waiting to see how the third chapter ofArenas' story plays out, but judging by early indications, there's cause for optimism.

After seeking the services of master athletic trainer Tim Grover in Chicago, Arenas returned to the District, proclaiming his legs - even the one with the thrice surgically repaired knee - stronger than his pre-injury days and declaring he intended to regain his All-NBA status and help the Wizards rebound from the 19-63 campaign they endured in his absence last season.

Arenas went through a rigorous training camp without a hitch, thenput up 14.7 points and 6.5 assists in 25 minutes a game this preseason. He even played back-to-back games and reported no problems the following day.

But can Part III really rival the original? Having been sidelined for the better part of two years, can Arenas regain the production worthy of the six-year, $111 million contract the Wizards gave him in the summer of 2008 before he was even deemed healthy (which he ended up not being)?

A dominant comeback following such a long stretch off is a rarity but not impossible. Bernard King sat out all of the 1985-86 season for the Knicks and all but the final six games of the following year while recovering from a knee injury. He found elite form again after reinventing his game, going from post-up player to one who scored with his face to the basket. His finest post-injury season was the 1990-91campaign, when he averaged 28.4 points for the Washington Bullets.

More often than not, however, if a player experiences a serious injury and endures an extensive layoff, he returns as a shell of his former self.

But what of Arenas?

It's hard to say, teammate DeShawn Stevenson said when asked to gauge Arenas' progress. We have some games where he looks good, then hedidn't look good because he played a lot of minutes, so I don't know. But I'm not worried about it. He comes in and works on his game every day. There's a reason why they pay him $111 million. He works hard, and I'm pretty much not worried about him.

Retired NBA player Chris Webber suffered a similar injury that required microfracture surgery in 2003. He returned to play portions of the next five seasons but never regained his dominant form. He said the true test of Arenas' health will come once the Wizards are in the thick of the regular season.

I always think.. that it's harder for a smaller guy to get older because so much relies on them getting through picks, Webber said I was frustrated [after surgery] because I couldn't cover picks, but big guys weren't supposed to be reliable anyway in that fashion, so I guess big guys get a little bit of a waiver. Just guarding a Tony Parker, I can't imagine the toll that will take on his knee. I just hope hewas worked out with the best.

Thanks to Grover, Arenas believes he has and will return to his old self.

Unlike his previous comeback attempts, when he either overworked his knee prematurely or simply was unable to train hard at all, this time around Arenas has been able to prepare for the season without limitations. Because of that work, he believes he can be as dangerous asever.

Nobody could guard me before, and can't nobody guard me now, Arenas said three weeks before the Wizards reported for training camp, hisconfidence brimming from his strong performances in the Chicago ProAm league over the summer.

Last week, two days removed from a back-to-back against Detroit (24 points, five assists) and Cleveland (18 points, four assists), Arenas remained just as sure of himself.

When you work out six hours a day, you're not going to lose a step. It's just getting your rhythm back in the game, Arenas said before answering the question of what the greatest challenge of his comebackhas been with a simple reply: Nothing.

Arenas - once one of the most outspoken and entertaining players in the league - has tried to maintain a low, tight-lipped profile withthe media since training camp began. But Wizards co-captain Antawn Jamison said the guarded persona shouldn't be misinterpreted as Arenaslacking confidence.

He's shown signs of his old self: being able to turn it on and take over quarters, making it easy for his teammates, Jamison said. He'sgot that cocky swagger about himself again. We've seen him go through the preseason and not take a day off. I definitely think he's turned the chapter as far as injuries and being healthy again.

The Wizards are aware that they gambled when they inked Arenas to the $111 contract and that they have yet to see a return on such a hefty payday. But team president Ernie Grunfeld believes it was one well worth taking and that the final installment of Arenas' saga soon will show why.

Gilbert's an elite player in this league, a three-time All-Star who makes the game easier for his teammates, Grunfeld said. "People gethurt in this league, but for us, this was a long-term situation, nota few games. It was long term. Players like Gilbert and his talent aren't easy to find.

I believe in Gilbert, Grunfeld said emphatically. And our coachingstaff and his teammates do. We're all going to see very soon that he's capable of making this comeback.

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COMEBACK BOOM OR BUST

Gilbert Arenas is attempting to regain his three-time All-Star/All-NBA form after missing 157 regular-season games since he blew out his left knee on April 4, 2007. Twice he has attempted comebacks, both unsuccessful. Two-plus years and three surgeries later, Arenas is finally healthy. How will this return go? Here's how some past All-Starswho missed similar amounts of time fared in their comeback attempts.

Bernard King

Career: 1977-1993

Pre-injury: 22.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, three All-Star appearances from 1977 to 1985

Injury layoff: Missed 158 games in two seasons with knee injury

Comeback: King scored 22.7 points a game while making his return for the final six games of the 1986-87 season. His finest post-injury season was 1990-91, when he averaged 28.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He also made the All-Star Game that season.

Penny Hardaway

Career: 1993-2008

Pre-injury: 19.8 ppg and 6.6 apg, four All-Star appearances from 1993 to 1998

Injury layoff: Missed 93 games in two seasons with knee injury

Comeback: Hardaway had surgery in December 1997 and rushed back toreturn by late January, making an appearance in the All-Star Game that season. But then his knee forced him to miss the first 30 games ofthe next season for Orlando. His best post-comeback season was 1999-2000, when he averaged 16.9 points and 5.3 assists for Phoenix. But the following year he was hurt again, missing 78 games, and spent the next six seasons hurt on and off again. He never returned to the All-Star Game.

Grant Hill

Career: 1994-present

Pre-injury: 21.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, five All-Star appearances from 1994to 2000

Injury layoff: Missed 199 games in three seasons with ankle and knee injuries

Post comeback: After three failed comeback attempts, Hill finally pulled off a strong return, averaging 19.7 points and being named to the All-Star Game during the 2004-05 season. He was limited to just 21 games the following season but played 65 and 70 games in the following two years and all 82 games last season, averaging 12.0 points and4.9 rebounds in 2008-09.

CAPTION(S):

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has missed most of the past two seasons because of knee injuries. [Photo by Peter Lockley/The Washington Times]