How does an NBA star end up spending almost a decade behind bars? Well, being selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, you’d expect nothing but great things for your future. However, Javaris Crittenton’s story is a perfect example of how one incident can start a domino effect of bad events. Crittenton appeared to have a promising career ahead of him when he was selected by the Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft. Just two years after being drafted, Javaris had already moved through three NBA teams. But things truly unraveled after a now-notorious locker room standoff with Washington Wizards teammate Gilbert Arenas. The clash, which escalated over a gambling disagreement, saw both players draw guns, leading to league suspensions and serious consequences, particularly for Crittenton. But where is one of the alleged most controversial figures now?

While Arenas eventually returned to the NBA hardwood, Crittenton didn’t share the same fate. Despite short stints in the D-League and playing overseas, his career never found stable ground again. Then, in August 2011, headlines returned—with Javaris at the center of a tragic case. As reported by the Associated Press, he was charged in the shooting of Julian Jones, a 22-year-old mother of four, who died after being hit by a bullet Javaris Crittenton fired while allegedly seeking vengeance for a robbery.

He would go on to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and receive a 23-year sentence. After a decade in prison, he was released in April 2023, subject to strict probation and required community service. Netflix’s new documentary, Untold: Shooting Guards, released May 6, finally offers what life has looked like for the former Laker since his release.

 Well, part of the terms of his reduced sentence includes five years of intensive probation. As WSB-TV reported, he’s required to wear an ankle monitor and must stay indoors from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day. He’s also been ordered to complete 7,200 hours of community service over the first 10 years of his probation. As per an article by PEOPLE, his attorney, Brian Steel, had emphasized Crittenton’s desire to turn his experience into something positive: “Crittenton is committed to using his story to help others avoid similar paths.” And Netflix shows that’s exactly what he’s been doing.

The Netflix documentary showed that Javaris has been working with the Next Level Boys Academy in Union City, Georgia—a center that focuses on uplifting at-risk young men. While it’s not known if he leads or manages the organization, the film shows him mentoring youth and giving talks about where poor choices can lead.

And he’s not just speaking from regret—he’s speaking from lived experience. Just one incident changed it all. Surprisingly, despite that, he remained in touch with Arenas.

Arenas and Javaris Crittenton reunited years later on Gil’s Arena

More than ten years after the highly publicized locker room incident shook the NBA world, Arenas and Crittenton finally sat down together again—this time not as teammates or rivals, but as two men revisiting a painful past. Their reunion in April 2023 on Gil’s Arena offered something fans rarely get: a raw, unfiltered look into the aftermath of a story that once dominated headlines.

“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 explained. Crittenton backed that up, saying, “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.”

However, he didn’t stop there. “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…” For those who always believed the headlines told the full story, this conversation was a reminder that behind the drama were two friends navigating chaos the world never truly understood.

According to Crittenton, their bond was real, and what the public saw was a distorted version of their truth. Had things been dealt with differently, who knows, the domino effect could’ve worked in the right direction for Javaris Crittenton. Nevertheless, it’s good to see how he has pulled his life back together and is working for a better cause.