Now that Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has been exiled into NBA purgatory at the pinnacle of his athletic prowess and popularity, teammate Javaris Crittenton is bracing for his own full-body tackle by the NBA and America’s legal system. Crittenton faces the real possibility of a suspension — and much worse — for also brandishing a firearm during this bravado-testosterone meltdown inside the Verizon Center.
Crittenton allegedly locked and loaded his own weapon inside the locker room after Arenas “playfully” asked him to pick one following a gambling argument. Crittenton denied this and his gun was never found, so authorities would be hard-pressed to build a case against him unless evidence turns up. However, since someone on the team allegedly ratted on Crittenton and said he threw his gun in a laundry basket to avoid detection, authorities are reviewing videotape to corroborate witnesses’ accounts, TMZ reports.
If evidence turns up that Crittenton had a weapon on NBA property, he will also face indictment on weapons charges.
Crittenton will not emerge from this ridiculous episode unscathed regardless of whether a gun turns up or not. He is going to be sanctioned severely by NBA Commissioner David Stern for the gambling argument with Arenas on the team plane that precipitated the alleged locker room standoff, media reports.
Additionally, reports state that Arenas’ teammates will be levied fines by Stern for being photographed laughing when Arenas pantomimed gunplay at a game recently. The Washington Wizards organization will be punished untold sums for being complicit and allowing Arenas to illegally store firearms on NBA property in the first place.
There are bound to be casualties everywhere after the rubble from this PR nightmare is cleaned up. Stern is embroiled in another extremely embarrassing scandal (the “brawl” at the Palace at Auburn Hills and the referee Tim Donaughy corruption trial are most notable) and he’s tried mightily to scrub away the remaining vestiges of the “thug” influences on his league. Therefore, NBA insiders and experts said Stern will look to make heads roll like bowling balls out of spite and as a strong deterrent. –terry shropshire
