Washington Wizards say G Gilbert Arenas had firearms in locker

Wizards say Arenas had firearms in locker

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas stored unloaded firearms in a container in his locker, according to the team, and the NBA is looking into the situation.

The Wizards issued a statement Thursday night saying there was no ammunition in the locked container, and Arenas and the team have notified authorities and the league.

Arenas told The Washington Times he took his guns to the Verizon Center after his daughter, Hamiley Penny, was born this month. About a week later, he said he handed them over to team security to give to police.

“I wouldn’t have brought them to D.C. had I known the rules,” Arenas told the newspaper. “After my daughter was born, I was just like, ‘I don’t need these anymore.’”

Arenas was suspended for Washington’s season opener in 2004 because he failed to maintain proper registration of a handgun while living in California in 2003. Arenas formerly played for the Golden State Warriors.

Officer Quintin Peterson, a spokesman for the Washington police department, told The Associated Press on Thursday night there was no report of any active investigation involving Arenas.

The team and the three-time All-Star “are cooperating fully with law enforcement during its review of this matter and will have no further comment at this time,” according to the Wizards’ statement.

CBSSports.com first reported the investigation.

Wizards spokesman Scott Hall wouldn’t say when or where Arenas had the firearms in his locker.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allows for players to legally possess firearms but prohibits them at league facilities or when traveling on any league-related business.

“We’re aware of the situation and are working to gain a full understanding of the facts and relevant legal issues,” the NBA said in a release.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Sebastian Telfair was suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount in 2006 after a loaded handgun registered to his girlfriend was found in his pillowcase aboard the team’s plane when he was with Portland.

Arenas scored 18 points in Washington’s 109-97 victory at Milwaukee on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Arenas is averaging 22.2 points after being limited to 15 games during the past two seasons following three operations on his left knee over 1½ years.

Arenas, who turns 28 on Jan. 6 and is in the second season of an $111 million, six-year contract, is one of the NBA’s most popular players, but a series of injuries has limited his time on the court. Nicknamed Agent Zero, he has a career average of 22.7 points over nine NBA seasons.