CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
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Waived by the Warriors on 12/4/97 for conduct detrimental to the team and suspended by the NBA for one year, through 12/3/98, without pay; arbritator John Feerick reduced 82-game suspension to 68 games on 3/4/98
TRANSACTIONS
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Selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1992 NBA Draft. Waived by the Warriors on 12/4/97. Contract reinstated by arbritator John Feerick on 3/4/98. Traded by the Warriors to the New York Knicks for John Starks, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings on 1/21/99.
STATISTICS
SEASON AND CAREER-HIGHS
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One of the most talented guards in the NBA, Latrell Sprewell sprang unexpectedly out of the University of Alabama to become an NBA All-Star in his second pro season and the Golden State Warriors' scoring leader four years in a row. He was the NBA's fifth-leading scorer in 1996-97 at a career-high 24.2 ppg, but was suspended after 14 games of the 1997-98 season following a physical altercation with Coach P.J. Carlesimo. A springy guard who can improvise on his way to the basket, dunk over taller players and drain the three-point shot, Sprewell has surprised many fans who knew little about him when he was selected by the Warriors in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1992 NBA Draft. At Alabama at the same time as future NBA players Robert Horry and James Robinson, Sprewell, who spent two years of his eligibility at Three Rivers Community College, averaged 17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals as a senior. A tireless player, he led the Southeastern Conference in minutes played with 36.2 per game. As an NBA rookie with the Warriors in 1992-93, Sprewell almost matched his college numbers, averaging 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals to earn NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors. He was the first rookie in Warriors history to collect 1,000 points, 250 rebounds, 250 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks in a season. He also displayed his stamina, leading the Warriors in minutes played with 2,741. The mercurial 6-5 guard had a breakthrough season in 1993-94, upping his scoring average by almost 6 points to 21.0 per game (11th in the league). "Spree" averaged 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.20 steals (ninth in the league) to earn a spot on the All-NBA First Team. At age 23 he was the youngest All-NBA First Team selection since Isiah Thomas in 1984. Although he was not listed on the 1994 All-Star ballot, he was selected for the game as a reserve and scored nine points in 15 minutes. Sprewell logged 3,533 minutes in 1993-94, the most by an NBA player in 16 years. He led all league guards with 76 blocks and ranked fourth in the league in total three-pointers with 141. Despite his disappointment at the departure of close friends Billy Owens and Chris Webber in the early stages of the 1994-95 season, Sprewell continued to play at a high level. He led the Warriors in both scoring (20.6 ppg) and minutes played and returned to the All-Star Game, again scoring nine points. In 1995-96, Sprewell again led the Warriors in scoring (18.9 ppg) and minutes played (39.3 mpg, 10th in the NBA). He also topped the team in steals at 1.63 spg, ranking 16th in the league. Sprewell enjoyed his best season as a pro in 1996-97, ranking fifth in the NBA in scoring at 24.2 ppg, leading the Warriors in assists at 6.3 apg and tying for the team lead in steals at 1.65 spg. He also was the leading scorer with 19 points for the West in the midseason All-Star Game. He averaged 21.4 points per game in 14 games for the Warriors at the start of 1997-98, but following an altercation at practice with Coach Carlesimo, he was suspended and forced to sit out the remainder of the season.
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