Javaris Crittenton

Javaris Crittenton
Personal information
Born (1987-12-31) December 31, 1987
Atlanta, Georgia
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
(Atlanta, Georgia)
College Georgia Tech (2006–2007)
NBA draft 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career 2007–2011
Position Point guard / Shooting guard
Number 1, 3, 8, 23, 6
Career history
2007–2008 Los Angeles Lakers
2008 Memphis Grizzlies
2008–2009 Washington Wizards
2010 Zhejiang Lions
2011 Dakota Wizards
Career highlights and awards

Javaris Cortez Crittenton (born December 31, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, and the Dakota Wizards of the NBA D-League. He was previously the starting point guard for the Georgia Tech men's basketball team. After pleading guilty to manslaughter in 2015, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison.[1]

Early life and high school

Crittenton was born to Sonya Dixon[2] in Atlanta, Georgia.[3] He attended Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, where, as a high school sophomore, he played alongside Dwight Howard.[2] Crittenton and Howard led Southwest Atlanta to victory in the GHSA class A state championship that season.[2] As a junior, in 2005, Crittenton averaged 28.4 points, 7.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds.[2] He once again led Southwest Atlanta to the GHSA class A state finals, where they lost to powerhouse Randolph-Clay.[2] As a senior, Crittenton averaged 29 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, and led Southwest Atlanta to the GHSA class A semi-finals against Randolph-Clay. After dismissing Randolph-Clay they headed to the championship game once again. This time they were successful in beating rivals Whitefield Academy to become state champions.[2] Following the season he was named a McDonald's All American. He was also named Mr. Georgia Basketball by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.[2] Crittenton carried a 3.5 GPA in high school, and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and the Senior Beta Club.[2]

College

While at Georgia Tech, Crittenton excelled and was considered a team leader, a rare accolade for a freshman.[4] Tech coach Paul Hewitt urged Crittenton to take over a leadership role on the team after his play in several games in February 2007.[4] He recorded a career high of 29 points in a February 13 game against Florida State.[5] After a single season, he left school to go pro.

Professional career

Los Angeles Lakers

Crittenton was drafted with the nineteenth pick in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. During an NBA Summer League game on July 8, 2007, he had 18 points, including a game winning jump-shot with 1.7 seconds left in the game. In the Lakers' first preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in Honolulu, Crittenton had 18 points along with one assist in a 111–110 loss.

Memphis Grizzlies

On February 1, 2008, Crittenton was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies along with Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie, rights to Marc Gasol and 2008 and 2010 first round draft picks for Pau Gasol and a 2010 second round draft pick.[6] On April 2, 2008, as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, Crittenton had a career high of 23 points in a 130–114 win over the New York Knicks.

Washington Wizards

Crittenton with the Wizards.

On December 10, 2008, Crittenton was part of a three-team trade that sent him to the Washington Wizards along with Mike James from the New Orleans Hornets. In exchange the Wizards sent a conditional first-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies and Antonio Daniels to the Hornets.[7]

In December 2009, Crittenton and teammate Gilbert Arenas were involved in a locker room confrontation involving guns.[8] On January 25, 2010 Crittenton pleaded guilty and was given a year of probation on a misdemeanor gun possession charge stemming from this incident.[9] Two days later, Crittenton and Arenas were suspended for the rest of the season by NBA commissioner David Stern.[10] Crittenton had not played a single minute after he was suspended. He was released by the Wizards following the suspension. Arenas did rejoin the team.

Charlotte Bobcats

On September 22, 2010, the Charlotte Bobcats signed him to a non-guaranteed contract. They released him three weeks later on October 15.

Zhejiang Guangsha Lions (China)

In December 2010, Crittenton played five games for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association. He averaged 25.8 points per game,[11] but he returned to the United States after just a few weeks.

Dakota Wizards

In February 2011, Crittenton joined the Dakota Wizards of the NBA D-League. He played 21 games for the minor league team, including five starts.

Murder and drug charges

Javaris Crittenton
Criminal penalty 23 years in prison
Conviction(s) Voluntary manslaughter with a weapon
Aggravated assault with a firearm
Capture status
 Incarcerated
Killings
Victims Jullian Jones
Date August 19, 2011

On August 26, 2011, Crittenton was charged with the August 19 murder of Jullian Jones, a 22-year-old mother of four. Atlanta police indicated that Jones was not the intended target; they believe that Crittenton was targeting a person who robbed him in April 2011.[12] Jones was shot in the leg and died during surgery.[13] Crittenton was arrested by the FBI in John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California on August 29, while waiting to board a flight back to Atlanta. His lawyer stated that Crittenton's sole purpose for the trip to Atlanta was to surrender himself to custody.[14] Crittenton was extradited to Atlanta to stand trial for the murder. After his arrest, he denied any involvement.[15] Crittenton was released on a $230,000 bond.[16]

Crittenton and his cousin Douglas Gamble were officially indicted on April 2, 2013 on 12 counts in connection with Jones' death, including charges of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, giving false statements, attempted murder, and participation in criminal street gang activity. Crittenton reportedly joined the Crips after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Fulton County assistant district attorney Gabe Banks, and allegedly also shot at Demontinez Stephens earlier in August 2011. The target in both shootings was reportedly Trontavious Stephens, Demontinez's brother and a member of the R. O. C. Crew, which is part of the Bloods.[17]

While out on bond on the murder charges, Crittenton was arrested pursuant to a January 10, 2014, indictment of him and 13 other persons who were accused of selling multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and several hundred pounds of marijuana. Crittenton was charged with two counts of conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act.[18]

On April 29, 2015, shortly before his trial was set to begin, Crittenton pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a weapon and aggravated assault with a firearm. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.[1]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2007–08 L.A. Lakers 22 0 7.8 .491 .333 .679 1.0 .8 .3 .0 3.3
2007–08 Memphis 28 0 18.1 .400 .265 .697 3.2 1.2 .4 .1 7.4
2008–09 Memphis 7 0 6.3 .467 .000 .455 .9 .7 .1 .0 2.7
2008–09 Washington 56 10 20.2 .459 .143 .593 2.9 2.6 .7 .1 5.3
Career 113 10 16.4 .442 .231 .638 2.4 1.8 .5 .1 5.3

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Ex-NBA player Crittenton gets 23 years in prison for Atlanta shooting death". Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Player Bio: Javaris Crittenton". RamblinWreck.com. Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  3. ↑ Javaris Crittendon, espn.com, accessed February 13, 2007.
  4. 1 2 Odum, Charles (February 7, 2007). "College Basketball: Georgia Tech 74, N.C. State 65". Salisbury Post. Associated Press.
  5. ↑ Associated Press. Georgia Tech 63, Florida St 57, espn.com, accessed March 11, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Grizzlies trade Pau Gasol to Lakers for four players and two first round picks". NBA.com. February 1, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Wizards Acquire Javaris Crittenton and Mike James". NBA.com. December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Report says Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. January 2, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Crittenton's plea agreement on gun charges could affect Arenas' future". CNN. January 25, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  10. ↑ Marc Stein (March 23, 2010). "Stern bans Arenas, Crittenton for year". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Former Washington Wizard Javaris Crittenton back in jail – ESPN". Espn.go.com. February 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Former NBA player Crittenton charged with murder in Atlanta". The Sports Network. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  13. ↑ Stevens, Alexis. "Former Georgia Tech star wanted for homicide". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  14. ↑ "FBI arrests Javaris Crittenton". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Javaris Crittenton back in Atlanta". espn.com. espn.com. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Javaris Crittenton free on bond". espn.com. espn.com. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  17. ↑ Garner, Marcus K. "Ex-Tech star Crittenton indicted for murder". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  18. ↑ Garner, Marcus K. "Former NBA player Javaris Crittenton back in jail". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
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