Javaris Crittenton
A promising NBA point guard whose career was tragically derailed and ultimately defined by a guilty plea to manslaughter.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American basketball player·Birthday: December 31·Millennials
Biography
Javaris Crittenton's story is a stark narrative of potential and profound downfall. A standout at Georgia Tech, he was a first-round NBA draft pick in 2007, bringing size and scoring ability to the point guard position. His rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers showed flashes, but he was traded and struggled to find a consistent role with the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. His name became nationally known for the wrong reason in 2009, involved in a highly publicized locker-room confrontation with teammate Gilbert Arenas over a gambling debt that involved firearms. This incident foreshadowed a far graver tragedy. By 2011, his NBA career was over, and he was charged with murder in Atlanta. The case involved a drive-by shooting that killed a 22-year-old mother, Jullian Jones; Crittenton maintained he was targeting a man who had robbed him. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. His life serves as a cautionary tale of how quickly a future in professional sports can unravel.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Javaris was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Javaris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Javaris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft.
- Started 24 games as a rookie for the Lakers during the 2007-08 season.
- Averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 assists per game over his three-season NBA career.
- Was a McDonald's All-American in high school and a standout freshman at Georgia Tech.
Did You Know?
He was involved in a famous 2009 locker-room gun incident with Washington Wizards teammate Gilbert Arenas.
In his lone college season, he led Georgia Tech in assists and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
He played briefly in China for the Zhejiang Lions during the 2010-11 season.
His NBA career ended at the age of 22 after the 2008-09 season.
“I was a first-round pick, and then it all went wrong.”
