'Untold: The Shooting Guards' reveals how Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton's locker room gun standoff ended two NBA careers
Image via Joe Murphy, Jesse D. Garrabrant/ Getty Images
Inside the NBA's most infamous feud: When Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton drew guns
Untold: Shooting Guards | Official Trailer | Netflix
Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittenton, and the locker room gun standoff that shook the NBA
Gilbert Arenas on the Dan Patrick Show Full Interview | 05/06/25
In December 2009, a heated card game between Washington Wizards teammates spiraled into one of the most bizarre and damaging scandals in NBA history. Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton , once full of promise, brought firearms into their team's locker room after a gambling dispute turned personal. Now, Netflix's 'Untold: The Shooting Guards' revisits the shocking chain of events and how a single moment unraveled two careers and forced the league to take a hard look at its culture.The incident began during a routine team flight just days before Christmas in 2009. Gilbert Arenas , known for his humor and constant need to push limits, mocked Crittenton over money lost in a card game. What started as trash talk quickly escalated into threats. According to Arenas, he joked about setting Crittenton on fire, only to be met with a chilling response.'He said he would shoot me,' Arenas recalled in the documentary. 'I said, 'Then I'll bring you the guns to do it.''On December 21, 2009, Arenas followed through on that reckless statement. He brought multiple unloaded guns into the Wizards' locker room and placed them near Crittenton's locker. He told his teammate to pick one. But instead of diffusing the tension, it triggered something far more dangerous. Crittenton responded by pulling out a loaded gun of his own. The confrontation sent teammates fleeing the room and soon became national news.NBA Commissioner David Stern acted quickly, suspending both players for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. Arenas later pleaded guilty to felony gun possession and was sentenced to two years' probation, 30 days in a halfway house, 400 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine. Crittenton, charged with a misdemeanor, also received probation.While Arenas eventually returned to the league, his stardom never fully recovered. He retired in 2012. Crittenton's downfall was even steeper. In 2011, he was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a bystander and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison and released in 2023.The Netflix documentary " Untold : The Shooting Guards" sheds fresh light on the story, with both men finally telling their sides. Arenas reflects with a mix of remorse and bravado. 'There's always a line between being a prankster and going too far,' he said in the film. 'And I was always on that line.' Speaking on "The Dan Patrick Show", Arenas later downplayed the drama, insisting, 'It wasn't as drama-filled as the media made it seem.' But public perception and league action said otherwise.Crittenton offers a sobering explanation for his reaction that day. 'You keep talking about fighting. I play with guns,' he said in the documentary, portraying himself as someone who felt threatened and acted in fear.The Wizards' season unraveled after the incident, and the franchise struggled for years to rebuild. More significantly, the NBA reevaluated its locker room environment and player conduct policies. What happened in Washington forced the league to strengthen its stance on weapons and reinforce the responsibilities that come with being a professional athlete.Arenas has reinvented himself as a podcast host and media personality, known for his candid takes and storytelling flair. His on-court brilliance is now viewed through the lens of what could have been. Crittenton, meanwhile, is a cautionary tale—his NBA dreams derailed by a single, fateful decision, and a prison sentence that followed.Also Read: Gilbert Arenas and Laura Govan's son Alijah receives positive recovery update after Tesla Cybertruck crash Netflix's documentary doesn't just revisit a scandal, it exposes the ego, fear, and impulsive choices that turned a locker room standoff into a defining moment for two players and a wake-up call for the NBA.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
44 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Sunita Ahuja claims ‘wrong circle' around Govinda led to his career downfall: ‘They just say ‘wah, wah!' They're of no use'
Once one of Bollywood's biggest stars, known for delivering back-to-back hits and whose very name guaranteed unabashed entertainment, actor Govinda's career has been virtually dormant for years. Not just that he hasn't had a commercial success in over a decade, but he also hasn't appeared in a film since 2019, following the disastrous performance of Rangeela Raja. Recently, Govinda's wife Sunita Ahuja addressed the decline of his career, attributing it to his futile attempts to replicate the formula that worked in the 1990s. She also criticised the 'wrong circle' surrounding him, who are nothing less than sycophants, suggesting that they played a significant role in his downfall. 'Why has Govinda not been seen in 17 years? The problem is that his circle is the wrong one. It's a wrong circle. Today, my fights with him are because I can't lie, and I do not appreciate flattery,' she shared during a chat with The Powerful Humans. Although Sunita refrained from naming anyone, she did not hold back in calling them out, at least indirectly. 'Today he has four people – a writer, a musician, a secretary and a lawyer friend. They are of no use. They only say 'wah, wah!' If he makes music, they say 'wah, wah… kalam kar diya.' They should tell him the truth. When I tell him the truth, he gets upset,' she claimed. Sunita Ahuja then went on to point out how Govinda was still attempting to relive his glory days and trying to churn out something from the same template, which has left him completely obsolete and outmoded. 'I tell him the 90s era is over. It is 2025. Look at what's working on Netflix and digital platforms. But he stays with his 'wah, wah' production. I told him, change your circle. For as long as you have these 4–5 people, they won't let you go forward,' she added. Despite his fame for slapstick comedy, energetic dance performances and headlining blockbusters such as Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Dulhe Raja (1998), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Anari No1 (1999), Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999) and Jodi No 1 (2001), Govinda's career began declining in the early 2000s. Although he managed a brief comeback with a couple of hits in the latter part of that decade, his career has been steadily deteriorating since the early 2010s.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
IPL Needs 12-16 Week Season To Compete With NFL, NBA: Punjab Kings Co-Owner
Last Updated: Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman feels a 12–16-week IPL season will boost the tournament's brand value, rivaling the NFL and NBA. The Indian Premier League (IPL) requires a 12–16-week operating window to rival the brand value of leading global sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and Premier League, according to Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman. With a per-match value of USD 16.8 million, the IPL ranks second only to the NFL (USD 36.8 million). However, it still trails its global competitors in overall brand value. According to investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the IPL is valued at approximately USD 16 billion. By comparison, a single NFL franchise, the Dallas Cowboys, is worth USD 9 billion, followed by the New York Yankees at USD 7.1 billion. The NBA's New York Knicks are valued at USD 7 billion, while leading football clubs Real Madrid and Manchester United each hold a valuation of USD 6 billion. The longer operating windows of the Premier League (August to May), NBA (seven months), and NFL (4.5 months) contribute to their higher valuations compared to the current eight-week IPL season. In an interview with PTI, Burman discussed the future of the IPL and the remarkable turnaround of Punjab Kings, who reached the final after 11 years. 'We're already second in the world when it comes to per-match value, just behind the NFL. But overall brand value? That's a different game. I think we need a 12-16-week window to get there," said Burman. 'That gives us space to tell better stories, build rivalries, and create more value for everyone – fans, sponsors, broadcasters. But it's not just about length. It's about what we do in that time – the kind of content we push out, how we engage fans year-round, how we build the league beyond the season. IPL has the scale. Now it's about consistency and depth." 'The IPL is already the biggest cricket product in the world, but staying there means not taking anything for granted. Player availability is crucial. We need a clean window where the best in the world can play without restrictions," said the 56-year-old businessman. 'The fan experience must keep evolving. It's not just about cricket anymore — its sport, entertainment, culture all rolled into one. We don't need to take the IPL abroad — what we do need is to build global relevance. Content, players, and stories that connect with fans across the world." Burman also supports the strategic move of IPL owners investing in overseas leagues. Alongside Punjab Kings, he and other co-owners have invested in the Saint Lucia franchise of the Caribbean Premier League. Other IPL teams have expanded their ownership in multiple leagues, including SA20, ILT20, MLC, CPL, and The Hundred. 'It's a smart and strategic move. A lot of teams are now building a common core — with shared vision, systems, and values — across multiple leagues. That's what makes it sustainable and scalable," he said when asked about the trend of IPL teams expanding overseas . 'For us, the goal is clear: build the Kings ecosystem across geographies and formats. Whether it's IPL or CPL, we want to run our teams with the same purpose — high performance, strong culture, and deeper fan connection. We're not just creating teams — we're building a brand that travels. And this is just the beginning," he said. Financially, the IPL and its franchises have seen significant growth since the league's inception in 2008. 'They go hand in hand. Strong on-field performances drive commercial growth — that's the reality. Brands want to be part of winning stories. We've seen that this year — we're up 25% year-on-year commercially. 'More fan engagement, stronger sponsor interest, and better value across the board. This season proves that when your on-field and off-field stories align — that's where the real magic happens," he said. The turning point for Punjab Kings came with the appointment of Ricky Ponting, which transformed the team's energy and mindset. 'The real turning point came when we took a step back to think the direction of the franchise. Getting Ricky Ponting on board was the first step in our revamp. His arrival transformed the energy — and the mindset," said Burman. 'Then came the auction, where we made strategic choice on balance, clarity, and intent. Backing Shreyas as captain was another big moment — he brought composure, vision, and a sense of Unity. 'They didn't just see Punjab Kings as a franchise. They saw it as a project with potential. There's no hierarchy here — just one team, moving toward one goal. That's a powerful thing. 'Off the field, we rewired everything — from marketing and storytelling to fan engagement. Commercially, we've seen strong growth. But what I'm most proud of is the culture — one rooted in belief, joy, and accountability. That's been the true foundation of the success," he added. (With inputs from PTI)
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos defends platform going massy with CID, Kapil Sharma show: 'We're broadening the offering'
When Netflix first arrived in India, it only had original programming originating in the US and Europe, such as House of Cards, along with licensed TV shows and movies. Over the years, Netflix built a bank in India and greenlit scores of shows and films in local languages, from Hindi to Tamil and more. But over the last year or so, there has been concern among some brand 'loyalists' if Netflix is going too massy in the country. (Also read: Crime Patrol debuts on Netflix after CID, fans predict Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah will be next) Netflix brought Kapil Sharma, the popular primetime comedian, with his own show, onto the platform in 2024. Soon after, it bought the streaming rights of late-night TV hits CID and Crime Patrol as well. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos addressed bringing these massy shows onto the platform recently. Speaking on Nikhil Kamath's WTF podcast, he said, 'That's the beauty of the personalisation work we've been doing since the company began—we're not doing those shows instead of doing other shows. We're doing them in addition to everything else. So if you like those kinds of shows, that's what you'll see on Netflix. If you don't, you'll see something else. We're broadening the offering, not narrowing it.' When asked what Netflix has found works in India the best, Sarandos added, 'From Japanese anime to all kinds of different things that you would not expect would work very well in India, work very well. The audience here is very hungry for diverse storytelling from around the world. They love Bollywood, they love South Indian action movies for sure, but they are far more adventurous as viewers than I expected.' The Great Indian Kapil Show began streaming on Netflix in March 2024. It has since streamed 26 episodes over two seasons. The third season will premiere on the platform later this month. Earlier this year, Netflix began to stream popular Sony TV crime thriller CID and the true crime show Crime Patrol as well. The two shows, along with Kapil Sharma's previous talk shows, have been among the most watched on Indian TV for over a decade.
