Police, NBA probing Gilbert Arenas gun incident with teammate
Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas (0) drives by Memphis Grizzlies' Marc Gasol. (Dec. 28, 2009) Credit: AP
The NBA has a new controversy to open the new year. According to a report, Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton allegedly pulled guns on each other in the team's locker room over a gambling dispute. The story was reported by the New York Post on Thursday night.
Yahoo! Sports reported an incident between Arenas and Crittenton as the reason for the NBA's investigation of Arenas allegedly storing unloaded firearms in his locker stall at the Wizards' downtown arena, Verizon Center.
Arenas told The Washington Post after Friday's practice that he is considering a lawsuit against the New York Post. "That's not the real story," Arenas said.
"I saw the story," he told Washington Post reporter Michael Lee. "Very compelling. Some real O.K. Corral stuff."
On his Twitter account, Arenas said: "I wake up this morning and see I was the new John Wayne . . . media is too funny."
The NBA prohibits players from carrying firearms on league property during business hours. District of Columbia police also are involved because of the strict laws that prohibit carrying firearms within the Capitol District.
As first reported by CBSSports.com, the Wizards informed the NBA before Christmas that it had been discovered that Arenas had unloaded firearms in a locked container in his locker.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank issued a statement from the league that acknowledged the involvement of D.C. police in the Arenas situation and said the NBA is "monitoring closely" but added, "We are not taking any independent action at this time."
