Arenas Receives Third Longest NBA Suspension Following Gun Charges

By Brittni Michaelis

The NBA and Commissioner David Stern gave out the third longest suspension in NBA history today, according to the Huffington Post. Washington Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were suspended 50 games today for their part in a locker room fight back in December when the two of them brandished unloaded weapons. It has also been reported that Arenas asked for the suspension so that it would not carry over into next season, as stated by Michael Lee of the Washington Post.

Arenas Mug Shot

Commissioner Stern released a statement earlier today in which he outlined the suspensions. Stern said, “The NBA has conducted a thorough investigation of events relating to this matter. It is not disputed that, following an argument on the team’s flight home from a game in Phoenix, both Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton brought guns to the Verizon Center locker room and – with other players and team personnel present or nearby – displayed them to one another in a continuation of their dispute. The players engaged in this conduct despite a specific rule set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Players Association prohibiting players from possessing a weapon at an NBA facility, and reminders of this prohibition given annually by the NBA to players both in writing and in person. The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one’s home or elsewhere. It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated. I have met separately with Mr. Arenas and with Mr. Crittenton. Both have expressed remorse for their actions and an understanding of the seriousness of their transgressions. Both have volunteered to engage in community service in order to turn the lessons they have learned into an educational message for others. I accept fully the sincerity of their expressions of regret and intent to create something positive from this incident. Nevertheless, there is no justification for their conduct. Accordingly, I am today converting Mr. Arenas’ indefinite suspension without pay to a suspension without pay for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, and am also suspending Mr. Crittenton without pay, effective immediately, for the remainder of the 2009-10 season.”

While the New York Post reported that the gun incident stemmed from a gambling debt that Arenas refused to pay, the Washington Post had the opportunity to speak to Gilbert Arenas Sr., the basketball stars father, and he said, “”From the respect of guns being pulled in the locker room and at each other… that’s ludicrous. [Gilbert Jr.] bringing the guns to the locker room to keep away from his kids, that’s true. [But] Gil did not pull a gun on anybody. That’s about all that I can say” according to ESPN.com

On January 14th, Arenas pled guilty to a felony gun charge and will be arraigned on March 26th while his counterpart Crittenton pled guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge on Monday.

It is an enormous blow to the Washington Wizards, who are losing two point guards as well as their leading scorer, all the while having a woeful 14-30 record.