IFWT_Butler Arenas

Caron Butler wrote an autobiography Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA” (which I highly suggest you read), detailing his life, going from drug dealing, juvie and violence to being in the NBA.  He also included his time with the Washington Wizards and gave a first-hand account of the infamous gun incident with Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton that tore the franchise apart.

It all began when Arenas and Crittenton were playing cards on a flight home.  Arenas reportedly refused to pay $1,100 he owed Crittenton and the two started an intense argument that continued even after they landed.

“I’ll see your [expletive] at practice and you know what I do,” Gilbert said.

“What the [expletive] you mean, you know what I do?” replied Javaris.

“I play with guns.”

“Well I play with guns, too.”

………

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.

Other players who had been casually arriving, laughing and joking with each other, came to a sudden halt, their eyes bugging out. It took them only a few seconds to realize this was for real, a shootaround of a whole different nature. They all looked at each other and then they ran, the last man out locking the door behind him.

Somebody outside the locker room called 911. Flip Saunders was the coach back then, but he was too scared to even come into the locker room.

You can read the entire excerpt on The Washington Post.

Arenas is still around (not in the NBA) but dealing with baby momma drama with on again, off again girlfriend Laura Govan as you’ve read on here.

Crittenton is currently serving a 23-year sentence for manslaughter.

Shay Marie: Twitter || Instagram