The NBA officially announced Wednesday that it would suspend Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas indefinitely after an investigation of an incident with teammate Javaris Crittenton. According to sources, the incident occurred on the team plane and was then repeated just 24 hours later in the locker rooms.

The dispute between the players began on the team plane after a game in Phoenix and ended with a heated exchange. The day after the first incident, the dispute was taken into the team’s locker room where Arenas, in response to his exchange with Crittenton, placed three guns on a chair near Cittenton’s locker and invited his teammate to take one before practice started.

Crittenton responded angrily, brandishing his own weapon.

After the investigation was made public, the NBA launched an investigation, as both officials, law enforcement, and the media try to determine the truth of the story.

Arenas addressed the media several times, stating that he had had no intention of harming Crittenton or anyone else in the locker room. The NBA has involved local and federal authorities to investigate the incident, but specific details, such as the names of the other players in the locker room during the incident, have not yet been released.

NBA commissioner David Stern stated that Arenas was "not currently fit to take the court" for a game and decided to suspend him indefinitely even though the results of the investigation have not been finalized; according to Stern, the player violated the NBA rules when he brought a gun with him to the team’s locker room, a behavior for which he eventually apologized.

Arenas has also stated also that the incident was blown out of proportions and that he had acted out of jest.

Arenas’ actions were viewed with extreme disappointment by the Pollins family, which used to own the wizards. The family had changed the team name from the Bullets to the Wizards in the 1990s in order to combat gun violence. The family stated that “the situation involving an incident in the locker room is troubling to our family, our organization and our fans. We know our fans are frustrated and angry. The fact that guns were brought to the Verizon Center is dangerous and disappointing and showed extremely poor judgment.”

The Pollins have also promised that they will take measures to prevent similar actions in the future and that, although the investigation is not yet finished, they want to make sure that such behavior comes with appropriate consequences.

After the announcement of his suspension was made, Arenas made an official statement explaining that he brought the guns some time ago to his locker room to keep them away from his children at home. He also explained that he was not aware of the law, which forbade him to bring guns to the district, and made an apology. He also stated that he never meant to hurt or harm anyone with the weapons, as they were unloaded; he was not, he stated, planning to use them against anyone.

In 2005, during a period of collective bargaining, the consequences of firearms violations were strengthened at the NBA’s request. Players who bring such weapons to areas associated with the NBA – arenas, practice facilities, or even promotional appearances – may face disciplinary action.

At the NBA's request, the firearms language was bolstered during collective bargaining in 2005. Players are subject to discipline if they bring guns to the arena or practice facility, or even an offsite promotional appearance.

About the Author

Audrey Nolan is a top senior copy writer on NBA games and sports action for the sportswww.instantactionsports.com/
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