Caron Butler describes Arenas-Crittenton gun incident as scene from 'Old West'
The Washington Wizards stumbled into December 2009 with a losing record, but what transpired that month on the team plane - and subsequently the team's locker room - would result in the biggest loss of all for many within the franchise.
By now, basketball fans are well aware of the altercation that occurred between former Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.
On Wednesday, Caron Butler - also a former Wizard - released his much-anticipated memoirs, which outline his childhood involvement with criminal activity and run-ins with the law. The Washington Post published an excerpt of Butler's account of the event that wound up costing those involved considerable amounts of money and, ultimately, job security.
When I entered the locker room, I thought I had somehow been transported back to my days on the streets of Racine. Gilbert was standing in front of his two locker stalls, the ones previously used by Michael Jordan, with four guns on display. Javaris was standing in front of his own stall, his back to Gilbert.
"Hey, MF, come pick one," Gilbert told Javaris while pointing to the weapons. "I'm going to shoot your (expletive) with one of these."
"Oh no, you don't need to shoot me with one of those," said Javaris, turning around slowly like a gunslinger in the Old West. "I've got one right here."
He pulled out his own gun, already loaded, cocked it, and pointed it at Gilbert.
Confirming his own presence in the locker room as the incident unfolded, Butler - who represented the Wizards at two All-Star games during his five seasons in Washington - calmly convinced Crittenton to lower his firearm as Arenas, possibly realizing the gravity of the situation, left the scene.
The fracas reminded Butler of his tumultuous formative years in Racine, Wis.
"I didn't panic because I'd been through far worse, heard gunshots more times than I could count, and seen it all before," he recalled.
"This would have been just another day on the south side."
The rift between Arenas and Crittenton originated two days earlier, when the two squabbled over a $1,100 card game debt while aboard the team's plane.
The dispute carried over into the locker room, eventually sending shock waves throughout the entire league.
Then-commissioner David Stern suspended Arenas and Crittenton for the remainder of the season. Both players pleaded guilty to gun charges and avoided jail time.
The suspension ended up costing Arenas approximately $7.5 million in salary - he was on a six-year, $111-million contract at the time - and Crittenton forfeited about $670,000.
Arenas was traded to the Orlando Magic the following season. Crittenton never played in the NBA again.
Crittenton found himself in legal trouble again in 2011, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a weapon and aggravated assault with a firearm for his involvement in an Atlanta murder.
He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Butler - now 35 and a member of the Sacramento Kings - went on to enjoy comparatively happier times in the league, winning a NBA championship as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.