Where Is Javaris Crittenton Now? Inside His Life After the Washington Wizards' Gun Incident

Javaris Crittenton appeared to have a promising career ahead of him when he was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft.

But just two years and three teams later, the Georgia native’s NBA career effectively ended after a now-infamous locker room incident with Washington Wizards teammate Gilbert Arenas involving guns and a dispute over a gambling debt. The confrontation led to suspensions for both players and cast a long shadow over Crittenton’s future in professional basketball.

While Arenas would eventually return to the league, Crittenton’s trajectory took a much darker turn. After a brief attempt at a comeback, including stints in the D-League and overseas, he disappeared from the public eye. Then, in August 2011, Crittenton re-emerged in headlines when he was charged in the fatal shooting of Julian Jones, a 22-year-old mother of four who was struck by a bullet Crittenton fired while allegedly seeking revenge for a robbery, the Associated Press reported.

He later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. After serving 10 years behind bars, Crittenton was released in April 2023, under strict probation and community service obligations.

Now, Netflix's documentary Untold: Shooting Guards, premiering May 6, will give fans a closer look at the events that unfolded between Crittenton and Arenas — and how the latter's life was forever changed.

So where is Javaris Crittenton now? Here’s everything to know about the former NBA star's career and life after that infamous confrontation.

Who is Javaris Crittenton?

Javaris Crittenton is a former professional basketball player born on Dec. 31, 1987, in Atlanta, Ga.

He was a standout point guard at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, where he played alongside future NBA star Dwight Howard.

Crittenton went on to play one season at Georgia Tech before being selected 19th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

What was Javaris Crittenton’s career like in the NBA?

Crittenton's NBA career began with considerable promise but was ultimately short-lived.

The 6-foot-5 guard from Georgia Tech drew interest for his athleticism and versatility and was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft. It was a class featuring future NBA mainstays such as Kevin Durant (2nd overall), Al Horford (3rd) and Mike Conley Jr. (4th). Crittenton secured a guaranteed two-year rookie contract worth approximately $2.6 million, with team options for subsequent years.

Ahead of the draft in June 2007, he spoke to NBADraft.net about the skillset that he would be bringing into the league.

“I feel that I can run the show, distribute the ball, and score when needed to,” he said. “I can shoot, handle the ball, handle pressure, beat defenders off of the dribble, use my body well, get to the rim, and use my athleticism to finish at the rim or in the paint. I also think that I have pretty good body control. Its obvious that like any young player I still have a lot to learn though.”

During his start with the Lakers, Crittenton appeared in 22 games, averaging 3.3 points per game. In February 2008, midway through the season, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers.

With the Grizzlies, Crittenton saw increased playing time over 28 games, improving his scoring average to 7.4 points per game. However, his momentum in Memphis was brief, as he was traded again later that year to the Washington Wizards. Crittenton played 56 games for the Wizards during the 2008–2009 season, contributing averages of 5.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

In total, Crittenton played in 113 NBA games across three franchises, concluding his professional basketball career with averages of 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

What happened between Javaris Crittenton and Gilbert Arenas?

In December 2009, Washington Wizards teammates Crittenton and Arenas were involved in a locker room altercation that escalated into a firearm confrontation. The dispute originated from a gambling debt incurred during a card game on a team flight from Phoenix, according to NBC News.

Shortly after, Arenas reportedly brought multiple unloaded firearms to the locker room, challenging Crittenton to choose one, fellow team member Caron Butler recalled in his book Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA (via The Washington Post). In response, Crittenton allegedly drew a loaded gun, pointing it at Arenas, saying, “Oh no, you don’t need to shoot me with one of those. I’ve got one right here."

On January 27, 2010, Commissioner David Stern announced that Crittenton and Arenas would be suspended for the remainder of the season without pay, citing conduct detrimental to the league.

Arenas later pleaded guilty to a felony charge of carrying an unlicensed pistol and was sentenced to two years of probation and 30 days in a halfway house, per NPR. Crittenton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun possession charge, receiving a year of unsupervised probation and community service in addition to paying fines, according to The New York Times.

The incident had lasting effects on both players' careers. Arenas returned to the NBA but didn't regain his previous status, while the Wizards released Crittenton, and he did not play in the league again.

The two reunited in April 2023 on Arenas’ podcast, Gil’s Arena, more than a decade after the incident that changed the course of their career. They discussed the state of their relationship amidst the turmoil.

“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,” Arenas explained.

“Yeah, we were still communicating, man,” echoed Crittenton. “It’s messed up how it all played out. If people could’ve just seen the truth ... and not twisted stories. Because you know negativity sells. Drama sells. And so they did their job."

He continued, "They created chaos. And unfortunately, it ended up in a bad way for the both of us. But if they had painted the truth, I think everything would’ve went completely different. It would’ve been a different understanding.”

According to Crittenton, he and Arenas were close friends, and the media "misconstrued" their dynamic.

Why did Javaris Crittenton go to jail?

After serving his NBA suspension, Crittenton attempted a comeback. He joined the Charlotte Bobcats for training camp in 2010 but was released before the regular season began. He later had short stints playing overseas in China and with the Dakota Wizards in the NBA D-League. But he found himself embroiled in scandal again in 2011.

In April of that year, Crittenton believed he had been the victim of a robbery. He told friends and associates that his jewelry and other valuables had been stolen, Fox News reported. Law enforcement officials reported that Crittenton suspected members of a local gang were involved. Rather than leaving the matter to the police, he allegedly began seeking retaliation.

On the night of August 19, 2011, Crittenton was riding in a black Chevrolet Tahoe in southwest Atlanta, per ESPN. Armed with a pistol, he spotted a group of people standing outside a home on Macon Drive, according to Fox Sports. Believing one of the men in the group was connected to the robbery, Crittenton allegedly opened fire from the vehicle.

Instead of hitting his intended target, he struck 22-year-old Julian Jones, a mother of four who happened to be walking outside with friends. Jones was shot in the leg, but the bullet hit her femoral artery. She died from her injuries shortly after.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Crittenton was identified as a suspect. A manhunt led to his arrest on August 30, 2011, at an airport in Orange County, Calif., where he was checking in for a flight to Atlanta.

Initially charged with murder, Crittenton maintained his innocence for years. However, in 2015, after facing mounting evidence and years of legal proceedings, he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a weapon and aggravated assault as part of a plea deal. Crittenton was sentenced to 23 years in prison. His cousin, Douglas Gamble, was also charged in connection with the case and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

“I apologize from the depths of my heart,” Crittenton said during his guilty plea, per Reuters. “I'm not a murderer. I made a mistake, one that I wish I could take back.”

Crittenton's legal troubles didn’t end with the shooting. He was later indicted in a separate federal drug trafficking case, in which prosecutors accused him of being part of a gang-related operation.

Where is Javaris Crittenton now?

Crittenton was released from prison in April 2023 after serving 10 years for the 2011 shooting death of Jones.

His sentence was reduced from the initial 23 years, and as part of the agreement, Crittenton is now on intensive probation for five years, during which he must wear a monitoring device and follow a strict 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, according to WSB-TV.

He will also be required to complete 7,200 hours of community service during the first 10 years of probation. His attorney, Brian Steel, said Crittenton is committed to using his story to help others avoid similar paths.

Upon release, Crittenton expressed gratitude for the support he received during his incarceration.

“GOD IS BEYOND MERCIFUL…..Thank you to everyone that has prayed for me, believed in me, & helped to bring me home,” he wrote on Instagram in April 2023.

Two months after his release, while stopped at a sign in Fulton County, Crittenton’s vehicle was struck by a police officer in pursuit of a suspect. He has since filed a lawsuit, claiming serious injuries from the collision and is now seeking millions in damages from the county and its police department, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The former NBA player is also sharing his testimony at organizations like the Next Level Boys Academy, an empowerment center for youth and young adult males in his hometown. On the personal front, Crittenton is spending time with his partner and children.

“Once upon a time I fumbled it all....came back and recovered everything and everybody that was meant for me. God is merciful and amazing. I’m thankful 🙏🏾💪🏾👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🏆💙,” he captioned a January 2024 Instagram post.