NEW YORK -- Gilbert Arenas tried joking about his gun trouble. NBA commissioner David Stern found none of it funny.

Arenas was suspended indefinitely without pay Wednesday by Stern, who determined the player's behavior made him "not currently fit to take the court."

A day after the Washington Wizards guard was photographed before a game in Philadelphia playfully pointing his index fingers in a gun imitation at his teammates, Stern warned the former All-Star that his conduct will "ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse."

Arenas is under investigation by federal and local authorities after admittedly bringing guns into the Wizards' locker room.

The Wizards' troubles may not end there. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that according to firsthand accounts, teammate Javaris Crittenton, whose disagreement with Arenas reportedly fueled the incident, loaded and cocked his own gun in response to Arenas. In text messages, Crittenton called that account "false," according to the report.

Though Arenas first apologized Monday for his poor judgment and promised "to do better in the future," he also joked on Twitter about the incident and the media firestorm it spawned. After meeting with investigators Tuesday, Arenas said he feared Stern more than the authorities because the commissioner was "mean."

But Stern apparently had enough of Arenas' often-flippant response to a situation that has dealt the league a public relations blow.

League sources said Stern's decision to suspend Arenas now, rather than await the results of local and federal investigations, was a direct result of Arenas' comments and attitude. Those sources also said it's "fair to say" Arenas' actions on Tuesday expedited the process. League officials were incensed by the way Arenas mocked the reactions of the media and public toward his behavior on his Twitter page and in comments to reporters -- even before Tuesday's actions in Philadelphia, the sources said.

"The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us," Stern said.

"Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game," Stern said. "Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA."

The Wizards said they supported the suspension, calling Arenas' behavior "unacceptable." According to The Washington Post, Arenas said he "respected" Stern's decision.

"He is the same man who put me on my second All-Star team after I got snubbed by the coaches," Arenas said, according to the report. "That decision came down for me. He made a tougher decision today that went against me. And I have to accept it."

Crittenton could be facing more trouble as well.

The New York Post last week had reported that during the incident, Arenas and Crittenton had drawn weapons in the locker room and pointed them at each other. Arenas later disputed that account, saying he had taken the unloaded weapons out of his locker to play a joke on a teammate.

Two officials within the league, however, who were briefed on the investigation, told The Associated Press that the incident stemmed from a dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated locker-room conversation with Crittenton.

The Washington Post, citing two firsthand accounts of the incident, reported that after Arenas laid out four guns in Crittenton's locker with a note that said "pick one," Crittenton brandished his own weapon, loaded it and chambered a round.

According to both witnesses, the gun was never pointed at Arenas, but Crittenton began singing as he held it. Arenas then laughed, telling Crittenton, "Look at that little shiny gun," as two other players retreated to the training room, the newspaper reported.

According to the report, two of five people in the locker room at the time, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Arenas did not make that detail public in order to protect Crittenton, telling his teammate he would take full responsibility for the incident.

But Arenas disclosed Crittenton's loaded gun in his interview with investigators on Monday, the newspaper reported, citing a person with knowledge of Arenas' testimony.

Mark Bartelstein, Crittenton's agent, declined to comment, according to the report. But Crittenton, who has kept a low profile as the incident has unfolded, responded in a series of text messages.

"I have done nothing wrong. Let the investigation process take its course and you will see that," he said, according to the report. "My name is dying in this situation."

With each game he misses, Arenas, who turned 28 on Wednesday, will lose about $147,200 of the $16.2 million he will earn this season in the second of a six-year, $111 million contract. As of Wednesday he had $9,429,505.41 remaining for this season.