Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has been charged with a felony in last month's locker room confrontation with teammate Javaris Crittenton.
Arenas, 27, was charged Thursday with one count of carrying a pistol without a licence.
The charge carries a sentence of up to five years in person and was filed in D.C. Superior Court in an 'information,' a document that generally signals a plea deal.
His lawyer had no immediate comment.
Arenas characterized the Dec. 21 incident as 'a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate.' He denied threatening or assaulting anyone.
Arenas has said he kept several guns in his locker at the Verizon Center. He maintained he wanted to keep them away from his children and said he mistakenly believed that recent changes in district law made it legal for him to store unloaded guns there.
He was suspended indefinitely by NBA commissioner David Stern on Jan. 6. The suspension came the day after Arenas drew his hands to mimic guns in a pre-game huddle with teammates.
'While I never intended any harm or disrespect to the NBA or anyone else, my gun possession at the Verizon Center and my attempts at humour showed terrible judgment,' Arenas said in a statement after the suspension. 'I take full responsibility for my conduct.'
Arenas signed a six-year contract worth $111 million US in the summer of 2008. The guard played just 25 games over the previous two seasons because of injuries but had bounced back this season, averaging more than 22 a game points in 33 games."
Arenas, 27, was charged Thursday with one count of carrying a pistol without a licence.
The charge carries a sentence of up to five years in person and was filed in D.C. Superior Court in an 'information,' a document that generally signals a plea deal.
His lawyer had no immediate comment.
Arenas characterized the Dec. 21 incident as 'a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate.' He denied threatening or assaulting anyone.
Arenas has said he kept several guns in his locker at the Verizon Center. He maintained he wanted to keep them away from his children and said he mistakenly believed that recent changes in district law made it legal for him to store unloaded guns there.
He was suspended indefinitely by NBA commissioner David Stern on Jan. 6. The suspension came the day after Arenas drew his hands to mimic guns in a pre-game huddle with teammates.
'While I never intended any harm or disrespect to the NBA or anyone else, my gun possession at the Verizon Center and my attempts at humour showed terrible judgment,' Arenas said in a statement after the suspension. 'I take full responsibility for my conduct.'
Arenas signed a six-year contract worth $111 million US in the summer of 2008. The guard played just 25 games over the previous two seasons because of injuries but had bounced back this season, averaging more than 22 a game points in 33 games."
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