Gilbert Arenas’ Forgotten History with WNBA Coach Resurfaces As Netflix Retells Javaris Crittenton Saga

If you’ve just finished watching Untold: Shooting Guards on Netflix and thought Gilbert Arenas’ legal issues started and ended with the infamous locker room incident, you might want to look a little deeper. The documentary does a thorough job spotlighting that explosive chapter involving Javaris Crittenton, but it’s stirred up a blast from the past—one that even some die-hard NBA fans may have forgotten. Long before the world knew about Arenas’ decision to bring a gun into the Wizards’ locker room, another incident had already dragged him into legal waters. The reason? Not what you’d expect.

Back then, the tension between Arenas and Crittenton was yet to bubble over into a full-blown scandal. They once shared a relationship rooted in mutual respect—something that’s hard to imagine given how their story turned out. Well, it turns out that Agent Zero, known for being a prankster on and off the court, was also deeply loyal to those around him. Ironically, it was that loyalty that got him into trouble.

Let’s rewind to 2006. Arenas and his then-teammate, Awvee Storey, who later transitioned into coaching in the WNBA, were both arrested in an incident that flew under the radar for years. Storey, though no longer under contract with the Wizards at the time, was reportedly in the middle of a street, causing a disturbance. A police officer asked him to move to the sidewalk. He didn’t comply, and the situation escalated into an arrest for failing to obey a lawful command. Now, here’s where Gilbert Arenas entered the scene.

Watching his teammate being handcuffed, he got out of his vehicle and walked over to the officers. Despite being told to return to the car, he stood his ground—literally—just so he could be by Storey’s side. That led to his arrest as well, under the charge of resisting without violence. And in true Gilbert fashion, as the handcuffs were being placed on him, he reportedly declared:

“You can’t arrest me. I’m a basketball player. I play for the Washington Wizards, and I’m not going to leave my teammate.” Both men posted bail the following Monday. As the story made its rounds, the Wizards kept it brief, saying, “We are aware of the situation and, until we have more information, we will have no comment.”

The arrests came amid a broader Memorial Day weekend crackdown by authorities in Miami Beach targeting public disturbances. So, while Netflix may have put the spotlight on one explosive episode, Arenas’ run-ins with the law have more layers than many remember. But his episode with Javaris Crittenton, without a doubt, tops the chart. However, if you think the two stars still have animosity, you could not be more mistaken.

Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton’s relationship dynamic following the infamous locker room incident

It was in April 2023 that Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton finally came face-to-face again, not as teammates or opponents, but as two men unpacking a moment that changed both their lives. Their sit-down on Gil’s Arena gave fans something rare: a genuine glimpse behind the tabloid noise.

“It’s crazy because even though we were going through that situation, we were still talking — even though the lawyers were like, ‘Oh, don’t talk to him right now.’ We were still doing our thing,” Gil revealed. Crittenton didn’t hesitate to echo that, adding, “Yeah, we were still communicating, man. It’s messed up how it all played out. If people could’ve just seen the truth … And not twisted stories. Because you know negativity sells. Drama sells. And so they did their job.”

His next words hit even harder: “They created chaos. And unfortunately, it ended up in a bad way for the both of us. But if they had painted the truth, I think everything would’ve went completely different…” You might’ve thought you knew the whole story back then. But hearing them now? It makes you wonder just how much got lost between the headlines and the heart of it all.

Crittenton made it clear—their bond was real. And while things could’ve turned out differently, it’s encouraging to see him pushing forward, choosing purpose over the past. However, it seems the discussion around is just digging more into Gilbert Arenas’ past.