NBA Suspends Arenas & Crittenton for Season

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today that the two Washington Wizards players have been suspended for the remainder of the season without pay.

Stern released a statement on his decision, claiming "The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere. It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated."

Stern noted, "It is not disputed that ... both Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton brought guns to the Verizon Center locker room and ... displayed them to one another in a continuation of their dispute."

Stern claims he met with both players -- and they each expressed remorse. Stern added that both men "have volunteered to engage in community service in order to turn the lessons they have learned into an educational message for others.

Here is Stern's letter in its entirety ... "The NBA has conducted a thorough investigation of events relating to this matter ...

"It is not disputed that, following an argument on the team's flight home from a game in Phoenix, both Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton brought guns to the Verizon Center locker room and – with other players and team personnel present or nearby – displayed them to one another in a continuation of their dispute. The players engaged in this conduct despite a specific rule set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Players Association prohibiting players from possessing a weapon at an NBA facility, and reminders of this prohibition given annually by the NBA to players both in writing and in person.

"The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere. It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated.

"I have met separately with Mr. Arenas and with Mr. Crittenton. Both have expressed remorse for their actions and an understanding of the seriousness of their transgressions. Both have volunteered to engage in community service in order to turn the lessons they have learned into an educational message for others. I accept fully the sincerity of their expressions of regret and intent to create something positive from this incident.