Latrell Sprewell

Latrell Fontaine Sprewell (born September 8, 1970 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American professional basketball player. A guard-forward, he is currently a free agent.

Related Topics:
September 8 - 1970 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - American - Basketball

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Sprewell entered the league in 1992 out of the University of Alabama. He was drafted 24th overall in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Sprewell made an immediate impact, starting 69 of the 77 games he played in during his rookie season and scoring 15.4 ppg.

Related Topics:
1992 - University of Alabama - Golden State Warriors

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Though a four-time All-Star, Sprewell's career has been permanently overshadowed by an incident on December 1, 1997, when he attacked Coach P. J. Carlesimo during a Warriors practice. When Carlesimo yelled at Sprewell to make crisper passes, Sprewell responded that he wasn't in the mood for criticism and told the coach to keep his distance. When Carlesimo approached, Sprewell threatened to kill him and dragged him to the ground by his throat, choking him for 10-15 seconds before his teammates pulled Sprewell off his coach. Sprewell returned about 20 minutes later and landed a glancing blow at Carlesimo before being dragged away again.

Related Topics:
December 1 - 1997 - P. J. Carlesimo

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Sprewell was suspended for 10 days without pay. The next day, in the wake of a public uproar, the Warriors voided the remainder of his contract, which included $23.7 million over three years, and the NBA expelled him from the league. Sprewell took the case to arbitration, and, as a result, the contract voiding was overturned and the league suspension was reduced to the remainder of the season. Sprewell did not play again until January, 1999, after the Warriors traded him to the New York Knicks for John Starks, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings.

Related Topics:
NBA - January - 1999 - New York Knicks - John Starks - Chris Mills - Terry Cummings

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On October 31, 2004, after Minnesota Timberwolves offered Sprewell a $21 million, 3 year contract extension, he declared, "I've got my family to feed." The request for more money was not granted, and Sprewell fulfilled the terms of his then-current contract during the 2004-2005 NBA season.

Related Topics:
October 31 - 2004 - Minnesota Timberwolves

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Over the course of his career, Sprewell has started 868 of 913 games he has 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 also was a pioneer of the spinning rim. For this reason, "sprewell" or "sprewells" is synonymous with spinners in hip-hop slang.

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In his only appearance in the NBA Finals (1999), Sprewell averaged 26 ppg against the San Antonio Spurs.

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Sprewell was named to the All-NBA First Team at the end of his sophomore season.

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Sprewell was featured on the cover of the September 1999 issue of SLAM Magazine.

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