A blizzard of controversy surrounded the Washington Wizards prior to their Saturday night game against San Antonio.
NBA and law enforcement officials are conducting a firearms possession probe of guard Gilbert Arenas: an investigation triggered after a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton that reportedly erupted over a card game. Ben Friedman, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, confirmed Saturday this office was working with the D.C. police to look into the matter.
“It’s an ongoing investigation,” said Friedman. “The facts are still developing.”
According to an ESPN.com report Saturday, the Arenas-Crittenton quarrel stemmed from an argument during a card game on the team’s flight from Phoenix to Washington on Dec. 19.
It escalated two days later when “Arenas placed three guns he owns on a chair near Crittenton’s locker stall and invited him to pick one.” The report, citing unnamed sources, said, “Crittenton subsequently let Arenas know that he had his own gun.”
When CBSSports.com initially reported on Dec. 24 that there was an investigation of Arenas having guns on NBA property, Arenas told The Washington Times that he wanted to get the weapons out of his house after the birth of his daughter earlier that month. He confirmed the investigation to reporters last week after the Wizards lost to Oklahoma City.
If the reports are found to be true, both Arenas and Crittenton could be subject to severe discipline, including suspensions and fines, by the NBA. D.C. also has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. The remainder of Arenas’ hefty contract, which has nearly $68 million over three years left on it after the current season, also could be at risk.
“The Washington Wizards take this situation and the ongoing investigation very seriously,” said the team in a statement on Friday. “We are continuing to cooperate fully with the proper authorities and the NBA and will have no further comment at this time.”
Arenas did not address specifics of his case but said via his Twitter account on Friday: “i understand this is serious..but if u ever met me you know i dont do serious things im a goof ball this story today dont sound goofy to me.”
