Revisiting the Crazy Gilbert Arenas-Javaris Crittenton Locker Room Gun Confrontation

In 2009, the NBA was rocked by news of an altercation in the Washington Wizards locker room that escalated when Javaris Crittenton pulled a gun on Gilbert Arenas, who was also in possession of several firearms. The story was rightfully huge for obvious reasons. Looking back on it almost 11 years later, we still can't believe it happened.

The most detailed account of the incident came in Caron Butler's memoir, Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA. In his retelling of the story (at the time he was on the Wizards), he explains how Arenas had $1,100 in his possession that Crittenton felt belonged to him. The dispute over the money's ownership spilled onto the team plane, and the pair had to be restrained. It culminated in Arenas delivering a harsh threat that he "play[s] with guns."

Two days later, Butler claims that Arenas arrived in the locker room with four guns. He laid them out and told Crittenton to pick the weapon he would shoot him with. Crittenton allegedly responded by pulling one of his own and pointing it straight at Arenas.

Butler claims the rest of the team fled while their coach, Flip Saunders, locked himself in his office. Butler says he stayed behind and talked Crittenton out of shooting anyone. However, Arenas has a much different account.

Arenas claims that the plane dispute began over a strange card game that Crittenton struggled through. Things escalated into an argument where Crittenton threatened to shoot Arenas. In response, Arenas left the four guns in the locker room with a note to "pick one." It was meant for Crittenton to back up his threats. Instead, the police were called, and the rest is history.

Crittenton is now serving 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Two years following the incident he's famous for, he shot and killed a mother of four during a drive-by.