Once a rising star in the NBA, Javaris Crittenton’s career took a drastic turn after a now-infamous locker room incident involving guns and teammate Gilbert Arenas. The confrontation, once dismissed as a bizarre sports scandal, is now reexamined in Netflix‘s Untold: Shooting Guards. The documentary explores how that moment — and what followed — irreversibly changed Crittenton’s life, leading to an unrelated manslaughter conviction and prison sentence. While Arenas moved on to become a media figure, Crittenton’s path was shaped by tragedy, crime, and a long absence from public life.
The Untold episode debuts amid renewed interest in the 2009 confrontation, which saw the two Washington Wizards players pull guns on each other in the team’s locker room. Crittenton, who never played in the NBA again, ultimately served time for a fatal shooting in 2011. He was released from prison in 2023 and is now on probation, working with young men in Atlanta and attempting to reshape his narrative.
Why It Matters
The case remains one of the most notorious off-court incidents in NBA history, and Netflix’s latest installment of Untold brings new attention to the personal and societal consequences of that moment. Titled Shooting Guards, the documentary frames the episode not as an isolated lapse but as a turning point that derailed two careers — especially that of Crittenton, who went from top NBA draft pick to convicted felon.
Former Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton appears in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Sept. 27, 2011. On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, Crittenton pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2011 shooting death of a…
Former Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton appears in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Sept. 27, 2011. On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, Crittenton pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2011 shooting death of a mother of four and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
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What Happened Between Javaris Crittenton and Gilbert Arenas?
Javaris Crittenton was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft, joining a class that included Kevin Durant and Al Horford. After brief stints with the Lakers and Grizzlies, he landed with the Washington Wizards. It was there, in December 2009, that tensions with teammate Gilbert Arenas boiled over after a gambling dispute. According to People, Arenas brought unloaded firearms into the team locker room during practice, mocking Crittenton after a card game loss. Crittenton then pulled a loaded gun from his locker, prompting teammates to flee and ultimately setting off a public scandal.
The NBA suspended both players for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. Arenas returned to the NBA, while Crittenton was released and never played another game.
In April 2023, Javaris Crittenton and Gilbert Arenas reunited on Gil’s Arena to reflect on their fallout. Despite legal advice to avoid contact, they said they kept in touch throughout the scandal.
“It’s crazy because even though we were going through that situation, we were still talking — even though the lawyers were like, ‘Oh, don’t talk to him right now.’ We were still doing our thing,” Gilbert said on the episode.
Where is Javaris Crittenton Now?
In 2011, Crittenton was arrested and later convicted in connection with the fatal shooting of Julian Jones, a 22-year-old mother of four in Atlanta. Prosecutors said his bullet accidentally hit Jones while seeking revenge for a robbery, according to AP News. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2015 and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Crittenton was released from prison in 2023 after serving 10 years, People reported. His sentence was reduced and under the terms of his probation, he must abide by a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and complete 7,200 hours of community service over the next decade, People reported.
Since his release, Crittenton has been coaching a youth basketball team and speaking at community centers like the Next Level Boys Academy in Atlanta. In 2024, he welcomed a new son and continues to post about family life on social media.
What is Javaris Crittenton’s Net Worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Crittenton earned approximately $4.1 million during his short NBA career. As of 2025, the outlet reported that his net worth is estimated to be just $10,000.
What People Are Saying
Javaris Crittenton posted about his family to Instagram on March 31: “I’ll do whatever for them. I just want to keep a smile on their faces and always make them happy.”
Reddit user named u/pwilson319 posted on May 6: “There were truly no winners in this documentary. It was nice to see Gil self aware, but holy s***, he was an absolute a**; unsurprisingly there wasn’t a leader in sight to tell Gil to chill the f*** out. Javaris isn’t absolved either. Again, glad he acknowledged his mistakes but it felt like his reflections were just excuses…maybe I’m just being jaded? Hopefully he can get his life together and continue to make amends. I remember being excited to watch this but it was a brutal reminder of the many warts of this franchise.”
What’s Next
Untold: Shooting Guards premiered on May 6 and is streaming now on Netflix. The next episode of the series drops on May 13. Titled Untold: The Liver King, the documentary follows Brian Johnson’s journey from raw-meat influencer to internet celebrity, featuring interviews with family and partners and revealing how a steroid scandal shattered his all-natural image and sparked widespread backlash, according to Netflix’s Tudum.