When people think of Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, the first thing that often comes to mind is the locker room gun incident. It’s the story that made headlines, turned whispers into wild speculation, and created a narrative that they were enemies. But what if the real story isn’t about beef at all? What if, behind all the noise, there’s something deeper… like brotherhood and quiet acts of love that never made it to the spotlight?

During his appearance on All the Smoke with Matt Barnes, Gilbert Arenas sat down and unpacked everything. They discussed everything from the new Netflix Untold documentary to the real relationship he shared with Crittenton. What started off sounding like a scandal ended up sounding more like a deep bond. Arenas said it himself, “It was never really me versus him… that was my young boy, right?” The warmth in his voice wasn’t fake, it came from years of shared experience, trust, and even late-night talks about escaping the street life. “You don’t have to be a part of the hood. You’re rich. You’re an NBA player. They need you, you don’t need them,” Gilbert Arenas recalled telling Javaris.

And here’s where the heart of the story lies… the part no one ever talked about. Arenas revealed how close the two actually were. Gilbert Arenas shared that he gave Javaris his real hotel room number on road trips, something he didn’t even do for other teammates. “I didn’t have my name on the list ‘cause you know, teammates, sidekicks want to come over… they want the million dollar man,” he joked. But Javaris had access, not because of status, but because of trust. And when Crittenton’s mom needed surgery, Arenas didn’t hesitate. “I’m the one who gave him the money so his mother could get the surgery,” he said. Clearly, that wasn’t beef, it was brotherhood – but it went unnoticed by the tabloids.

Even after the infamous locker room incident, Gilbert said they were sitting in a jacuzzi, talking things through like family. “You getting angry over a thousand dollars, dog?” Gilbert Arenas asked, and Javaris responded, saying it wasn’t about the money but respect. That moment was a wake-up call for Gilbert. He realized how his actions affected Javaris’ standing on the team. “You’re still trying to establish yourself amongst this group, and I kind of f***ed that off for you,” he admitted. That’s the kind of accountability you don’t hear about in tabloid headlines – and the podcast provided an honest, no-holds barred look at the truth of their bond.

Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton: Friendship behind the sensational headlines

Gilbert Arenas made it clear on the podcast that despite the scary lows, their friendship didn’t break; it evolved. “Even after the incident, we were sitting in the jacuzzi just talking,” he said, showing that there was no grudge, just reflection. He understood the emotional weight Javaris was carrying and admitted his part in it. “That’s when I realized I need to really protect him,” he said.

Instead of distancing himself, Gilbert Arenas tried to shield Javaris from the fallout. “If the NBA comes, just tell them it was all me,” he recalled telling him. That’s not something you say when you’re mad. “You didn’t do anything,” he told Javaris. “It didn’t have anything to do with police… this is just for if NBA talks.”

Even while Javaris was in jail, Gilbert stayed connected. Matt Barnes laughed and said, “You told me you were supplying the cell phones,” and Gilbert proudly confirmed it. “Oh yeah. He had all the new iPhones. That boy had the new iPhones.” Arenas grinned. “He was in the hole a lot more because of me.” It was funny but heartfelt, the kind of thing a real friend would do to keep your spirits up behind bars.

And after all that? Javaris still wanted to talk hoops with him. “When he got out, the first thing he wanted to do was come on the show and talk basketball,” Arenas said. That speaks volumes. Arenas even told Netflix, “I’m only doing this doc if he’s the lead… I know I got the bigger name, but he needs to tell his story.” That’s real friendship. That’s sticking beside someone when it matters most. Forget the fake beef, this story is about loyalty and friendship that never left.