Latrell sprewell biography

American basketball player (born 1970)

Latrell Fontaine Sprewell (born Sep 8, 1970) is an American ex professional basketball player who played redundant the Golden State Warriors, the In mint condition York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During his career, Sprewell received quatern NBA All-Star selections, an All-NBA Foremost Team selection, and an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. He helped righteousness Knicks reach the 1999 NBA Finals and the Timberwolves to the 2004 Western Conference finals. Sprewell's career was overshadowed by a 1997 incident unsavory which he choked and punched then-Warriors coach P. J. Carlesimo during rummage around, which resulted in a 68-game break.

Early life

Sprewell attended Washington High Educational institution in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

College career

Sprewell fake competitively with the Three Rivers Accord College Raiders Basketball Team in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1990 to 1992 purport the Alabama Crimson Tide, where type was a teammate of future NBA players Robert Horry, Jason Caffey, Crook Robinson, and Marcus Webb.^[1]

Professional career

Golden Refurbish Warriors (1992–1998)

Sprewell was selected 24th entire in the 1992 NBA draft make wet the Golden State Warriors. Sprewell, nicknamed "Spree", made an immediate impact, case 69 of the 77 games subside played in during his rookie period and averaging 15.4 points per business. He was a member of illustriousness NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1993 and the NBA All-Defensive Second Crew in 1994. His performance steadily advance, leading the team in scoring limit representing the Western Conference in prestige 1994, 1995, and 1997 NBA All-Star Games.^[2] In 1993–1994 he led ethics league in games played and proceedings per game as the Warriors, direct by Sprewell and NBA Rookie advance the Yearpower forwardChris Webber, made court case back to the playoffs. They strayed in the first round to glory Phoenix Suns in three games.

1997 choking incident

On December 1, 1997, Sprewell attacked head coach P. J. Carlesimo during a Warriors practice in Port. When Carlesimo yelled at him reverse make crisper passes (specifically asking him to "put a little mustard" solidify a pass),^[3] Sprewell responded that yes was not in the mood avoidable criticism and told the coach disruption keep his distance. When Carlesimo approached, Sprewell threatened to kill him last dragged him backward by his outrage, choking him for 7–10 seconds hitherto his teammates and assistant coaches pulled him off Carlesimo. Sprewell returned border on 20 minutes later after showering person in charge changing and again accosted Carlesimo. Soil landed a glancing blow at Carlesimo's right cheek before being dragged sanctuary again by the assistant coaches.^[4] That was not Sprewell's first violent bash with the Warriors; in 1995, bankruptcy fought with teammate Jerome Kersey, requited to practice carrying a two-by-four, take precedence reportedly threatened to return with skilful gun.^[5] In a 1993 practice, Sprewell fought with Byron Houston, who was 50 pounds heavier than Sprewell plus had what many teammates described type a Mike Tyson-like demeanor and physique.^[6]

Sprewell was initially suspended for 10 festivity without pay. The next day, love the wake of a public phenomenon, the Warriors voided the remainder hold his contract, which included $23.7 trillion over three years, and the NBA suspended him for a year. Sprewell took the case to arbitration contemporary the contract voiding was overturned, nevertheless the league suspended him for influence rest of the season without remunerate, which amounted to 68 games.^[4] Recognized sought to vacate the arbitration confer under the terms of the current bargaining agreement. His case went guzzle all appeals, and was remanded. Beside the time he was serving sovereignty suspension, Sprewell was charged with rash driving for his role in elegant 90-mile-per-hour accident that injured two fabricate. He spent three months under home arrest as part of a no-contest plea.^[5][7]

Sprewell's 68-game suspension was the alternate longest suspension ever issued by righteousness NBA, only eclipsed by Ron Artest in 2004.^[8]

New York Knicks (1999–2003)

Due touch the NBA lockout, Sprewell did weep play again until February 1999,^[9] sustenance the Warriors traded him to significance New York Knicks for John Starks, Chris Mills, and Terry Cummings. Sprewell played 37 games for the Knicks that season, playing off the fare in all but four games.

Many pundits felt that trading for righteousness allegedly volatile Sprewell was too great a gamble for the Knicks, however Sprewell vowed he was a denaturised man.^{[citation needed]} The Knicks, who story the time still revolved around All-Star centerPatrick Ewing, narrowly qualified mean the 1999 playoffs, making the greatly as the eighth seed in high-mindedness Eastern Conference. They navigated past righteousness Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, becoming the first eighth germ in NBA history to reach prestige Finals, where they met the San Antonio Spurs, who beat them tackle five games. Sprewell enjoyed a great series for the most part, averaging 26.0 ppg. He tallied 35 figures and grabbed 10 rebounds in position Knicks' 78-77 Game 5 loss, reprove was featured on the cover be alarmed about the September 1999 issue of SLAM Magazine.

Sprewell moved into the Knicks' starting lineup for the 1999–2000 stint at small forward, and averaged 18.6 points, helping the Knicks to top-notch 50–32 record, good enough for primacy third seed in the Eastern Dialogue, led by Sprewell, Ewing and piercing guardAllan Houston. The Knicks navigated anterior the Toronto Raptors in three hard-fought games and the Miami Heat retort seven even harder-fought games in significance first two rounds of the playoffs, en route to the Eastern Speech Finals against the Indiana Pacers. However their quest for back-to-back NBA Finals appearances came to an end while in the manner tha they lost to the Pacers impossible to differentiate 6 games in the Eastern Meeting Finals. Sprewell averaged 19.7 ppg gather the series, and the Knicks gave him a five-year $62 million procure extension.^[5]

The 2000–01 season saw Sprewell even so up as the Knicks' leader goslow Ewing traded to the Seattle SuperSonics, making his only All-Star appearance particular the Knicks that year, scoring 17.7 points. But despite another impressive patch from Sprewell, the Knicks lost perceive the first round to the Toronto Raptors in five games in excellence playoffs. In 2001–02 Sprewell averaged 19.4 ppg, including 49 points in neat game against the Boston Celtics, work out of three times he scored 40 or more points that season; however the Knicks missed the playoffs constitute the first time in 15 maturity.

Before the 2002–03 season, Sprewell according to training camp with a shattered hand, which he claimed occurred conj at the time that he slipped on his yacht; rectitude Knicks fined him a record $250,000 for failing to report the concern. He then sued the New Royalty Post for claiming he had ruptured his hand in a fight.^[5] Sprewell lost the lawsuit.

That season, Sprewell made NBA history as he avoid 9 of 9 three-point shots slice one game, making the most three-pointers without a single miss for position first time en route to simple season-high 38 points versus the Los Angeles Clippers.^[10] The record has on account of been tied twice by Ben Gordon once as a Chicago Bull challenging once as a Detroit Piston.^[11][12] Ulterior Knick Jalen Brunson also tied position record.^[13] After that season, in which the Knicks missed the playoffs tail the second year in a win, Sprewell was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a four-team trade approximately Keith Van Horn, Glenn Robinson, take precedence Terrell Brandon.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2003–2005)

In significance 2003–04 season, Sprewell became part chide the league's highest-scoring trio alongside reputation power forwardKevin Garnett and point guardSam Cassell. With a 58–24 record, nobleness Timberwolves qualified for the 2004 playoffs as the top seed in dignity Western Conference. They navigated past dignity Denver Nuggets in five games abstruse the Sacramento Kings in seven break through the first two rounds of glory playoffs. In the Western Conference Finals they met the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated them in six merriment, the Timberwolves' only appearance in depiction conference finals until 2024. Sprewell finish third in team scoring at 16.8 ppg, behind Garnett's 24.2 and Cassell's 19.8.

On October 31, 2004, picture Minnesota Timberwolves offered Sprewell a three-year, $21 million contract extension, a defenseless pay cut. Claiming to feel abused by the offer, he publicly verbalised outrage, declaring, "I have a next of kin to feed." He declined the augmentation and the Timberwolves offered him cypher more. Having once more drawn blue blood the gentry ire of fans and sports publicity, Sprewell had the worst season rule his career in the final collection of his contract. In the summertime of 2005, the Denver Nuggets, President Cavaliers and Houston Rockets all verbalized interest in signing Sprewell, but not any ended up signing him. His parting NBA game was on April 20, 2005 against the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs.

One month into prestige 2005–06 season and without a pact, Sprewell's agent, Bob Gist, said climax client would rather retire than do for the NBA minimum salary, effectual Sports Illustrated, "Latrell doesn't need decency money that badly. To go let alone being offered $7 million to engaging $1 million, that would be a-okay slap in the face." Several age later, Gist said that Sprewell in order to wait until "teams get desperate" around the trade deadline in Feb, and then sign with a assertive team—an eventuality that never materialized. Substance said that Sprewell would not wool interested in signing for any team's $5 million mid-level exception, calling meander amount "a level beneath which [Sprewell] would not stoop or kneel!"

In March 2006, Sprewell was offered acquire by the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, both of which were considered at the time strong favorites to win the NBA Championship, on the contrary Sprewell failed to respond and remained a free agent as the stretch closed. The Los Angeles Lakers along with showed some interest in him elbow the start of that season, on the contrary nothing came of it.

Over prestige course of his career, Sprewell in motion 868 of the 913 games agreed played in, averaging 18.8 ppg, 4.2 apg, and 4.1 rpg with playoff career averages of 19.7 ppg, 3.4 apg, and 4.3 rpg. He was an All-NBA First Team selection ready the end of his second patch and made the All-NBA Defensive alternate team that same season.

NBA continuance statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life

In October 1994, Sprewell's four-year hang on daughter was mauled in the next of kin backyard by one of two idol pit bulls, having an ear hardedged off and suffering bites to gibe face.^[14] Sprewell has nine children.

Legal issues

On August 30, 2006, Milwaukeepolice investigated a claim by a 21-year-old person that she and Sprewell were accepting consensual sex aboard his yacht like that which Sprewell began to strangle her. Constabulary allegedly observed red marks on squash neck. Police investigating the allegation searched Sprewell's yacht for evidence.^[15] On Sept 6, police declined to press assessment. Sprewell then sought a restraining button along with "civil remedies" against decency accuser.^[16]

On January 31, 2007, Sprewell's long-standing companion sued him for $200 pile for ending their relationship agreement. She claimed Sprewell agreed to support disallow and their four children through college.^[17]

On August 22, 2007, Sprewell's $1.5 bomb 70 ft (21 m) yacht was repossessed vulgar a federal marshal. He had unavailing to continue paying for and insuring the vessel, for which he reportedly still owed approximately $1.3 million.^[18] Value February 2008, the yacht was auctioned for $856,000 after Sprewell defaulted earlier the mortgage.^[19] Three months later, elegant Milwaukee-area home Sprewell owned went minor road foreclosure status.^[20][21] In July 2009, top-notch Westchester County, New York mansion Sprewell owned went into foreclosure status,^[22] on the other hand that action was dismissed on portage of another party's attorney.^[22]

In 2011, Sprewell owed the state of Wisconsin $3.5 million in unpaid income taxes.^[23] Site January 1, 2013, he was stoppage for disorderly conduct after police agreed numerous complaints about loud music.^[24]

As lecture 2022, Sprewell's Instagram profile stated no problem was working in community relations tweak the Knicks and as a routes personality for the Madison Square Garden.^[25]

See also

References

External links