For the most of their existence, the Washington Wizards have been a largely unimportant NBA team. Since 1979, they have not advanced to the conference finals. The country has only taken notice of them twice in this century. The first occurred when Michael Jordan returned from his second retirement to play for two seasons in Washington, D.C. (2001–02, 2002–03). The previous time was nearly sixteen years ago due to a notorious event that happened in the locker room.
Shooting Guards is a fitting title for Netflix’s most recent Untold documentary. It describes how Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, two Wizards guards, attempted to resolve a conflict by bringing guns to work and the effects that conflict had on their personal life. Call it a case of toxic masculinity gone wild. Untold does a fantastic job of having the players and important observers share their interpretations of the truth, even though we may never know the whole tale.
In recent years, the Untold episodes have drawn criticism. One of the most frustrating aspects about Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators was Swamp Kings. There wasn’t much novel in The Murder of Air McNair. The purpose of Sign Stealer was to promote Connor Stalions. Ezra Edelman-caliber filmmaking will never be found here. Untold could strive for improved context and storytelling, nevertheless. We are successfully taken behind the scenes prior to, during, and following the shooting incident in Shooting Guards.
Crittenton and Arenas are driven to present their finest selves. They try to elicit pity by explaining what caused their hostile encounter. But the best interviews in Shooting Guards come from folks who weren’t professional athletes. Longtime NBA insider Peter Vecsey tells how he broke one of the most significant stories in his career. Vecsey describes in great detail how he was able to uncover something Washington tried to keep hidden by using his league-wide network of contacts.
Everyone was talking about it when the front-page story appeared in the New York Post in January 2010. It was more than just a sports tale. Gunfights between colleagues in an NBA locker room gained worldwide attention. Arenas and Crittenton were suspended for the remainder of the season as a result. Former NBA All-Star Arenas managed to salvage a couple more seasons. Crittenton didn’t return to the league to play.
Crittenton’s life took a tragic turn that ultimately led to his death. In 2011, while trying to shoot a suspected gang member who he claimed had stolen from him, he unintentionally killed 22-year-old Jullian Jones, a mother of four. Crittenton was given a 23-year prison term after entering a guilty plea to manslaughter. But in 2023, he was unexpectedly freed. With the aid of candid interviews with Jones’ mother, June Woods, and former Atlanta police investigator Vince Velazquez, Shooting Guards clarifies this further. The documentary lasts 85 minutes, with the last 22 minutes being particularly interesting.
Shooting Guards is not flawless. Thirty more minutes should have been added to this documentary. There are no interviews, follow-up questions, or other details available. Very little information about Crittenton’s intended aim is provided to us. It would have been helpful to get additional information about Jones and her kids. The request for comments from the movie was not answered by the NBA or the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, which is not unusual.
In 1996, the Wizards, formerly known as the Bullets, changed their name to “a nickname that portrayed a non-violent image.” When it comes to firearms, the NBA doesn’t play. Look at Ja Morant. However, because it illustrates how a bad choice may cost you your job, reputation, and independence, this documentary might be ideal to screen at the league’s rookie symposium. Just for that reason, Shooting Guards is largely accurate.