Hoops Habit
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Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks

By Amaar Burton

MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 22: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the hoop during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center on February 22, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 22: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the hoop during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center on February 22, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers Photo by Al Seib-Pool/Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers Photo by Al Seib-Pool/Getty Images /

10. Javaris Crittenton (2007)

Following his freshman year at Georgia Tech, combo guard Javaris Crittenton was drafted by the Lakers with the 19th pick in 2007.

The Lakers needed help in the backcourt, coming off a season in which they barely finished above .500 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the high-powered Phoenix Suns. Kobe was playing the best basketball of his life — leading the NBA in scoring at 31.6 points per game — but no one else on the team cracked 16 points per game. Starting at point guard for that L.A. squad was the much-maligned, oft-scapegoated Smush Parker. Their third-leading scorer was Luke Walton.

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Crittenton had size (6’5″) and skill, plus he was an All-ACC performer and high school All-American. He had the potential on paper to be a difference-maker for the Lakers.

Midway through his rookie year, however, Crittenton was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Pau Gasol deal. Crittenton’s career with the Lakers consisted of 22 games in which he averaged 3.3 points in 7.8 minutes per game.

Gasol turned out to be the sidekick Kobe needed to lead the Lakers back to title contention. The Lakers went on to make the 2008 NBA Finals, then won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. So in a sense, Crittenton did indirectly help bring the Lakers back to prominence.

Crittenton didn’t last long in the NBA after that. Early into his second season, the Grizzlies traded him to the Washington Wizards. One year later, Crittenton was involved in the infamous locker-room gun altercation with Gilbert Arenas. Crittenton was suspended by the league and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. That was essentially the end of his NBA career.

In 2011, Crittenton was arrested and charged with murder in the death of Jullian Jones, a 22-year-old Atlanta woman who was an innocent bystander and unintended victim of a shooting carried out by Crittenton and his cousin. While out on bond between his arrest and trial, Crittenton was arrested again for selling cocaine and marijuana.

Crittenton ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault charges and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

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