Javaris Crittenton played for the Dakota Wizards in the D-League this year after being a first round pick in the NBA just a few years prior. Continuing his fall from grace, and ultimately what will probably be the end of his basketball career if the allegations prove true, the point guard is now wanted for murder.
Javaris Crittenton faces a homicide charge in the death of mother-of-four Jullian Jones, according to a story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The woman was allegedly walking with two other men in downtown Atlanta, one of which believed to be Crittenton's intended target in retaliation for being robbed earlier in the year.
This, of course, isn't the first time he's been involved in gun charges -- unfortunately, though, it is the most serious. The other time, as has been well-documented, happened when he and former Washington Wizards teammate Gilbert Arenas were charged after brandishing handguns in the team's locker room.
Crittenton's basketball career had been undergoing a disappointing spiral almost ever since he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 19th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft following his freshman season with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Crittenton played sparingly for the Lakers before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies midway through his rookie year in the deal that ultimately netted Los Angeles center Pau Gasol. Crittenton spent the next season split between Memphis and Washington and then played an additional half year with the Wizards before the gun charges came to light and he was suspended for the remainder of the regular season.
This past year, Crittenton signed with the Charlotte Bobcats, but failed to make the team's regular season roster and took his talents to China. With Zhejiang Guangsha, Crittenton averaged over 25 points per game before being released due to, well, I'll let the team's general manager explain it.
"Yes, we're changing Crittenton," Ye said. "His individual offense is fine, but he's not doing a good job organizing the team offense. Also, his defense is bad and his shooting is off. Our new import [Tre] Kelly has already arrived in China. Right now he's in Beijing and he'll be in Tianjin soon. He'll play in tonight's game against Tianjin."
The 6-foot-5 guard finished his season in the Development League, hoping to get his NBA aspirations back on track, but it didn't go exactly as planned. Crittenton averaged over four turnovers per game and shot just 42 percent from the field and 60 percent from the free-throw line with the Wizards, who missed the playoffs for just the second time in 12 season.
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