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. Traded to New York, he overcame an
early season stress fracture in his right heel to become the team's
second-leading scorer in the 1998-99 season and its top scorer
in postseason as the Knicks won the Eastern Conference Championship.
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. He was finally
traded to the New York Knicks on January 21, 1999 for John Starks,
Chris Mills and Terry Cummings. Sprewell was used for most of
the 1998-99 season in Starks' old role of providing instant offense
off the Knicks bench. He missed 13 games early in the season due
to a stress fracture in his right heel, but came on in the second
half of the year to become the team's second-leading scorer at
16.4 ppg . In the playoffs, with center Patrick Ewing hobbled
and finally sidelined by an Achilles injury, he picked up much
of the scoring slack by averaging a team-high 20.4 ppg.
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SPREWELL RACING
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For those of y'all not knowing, Sprewell owns his own Sprewell
Racing. It's basically just his company in which he sells Racing
Cars, and they are pretty good-looking. Check out Sprewell's Racing
company's website for mo details.
http://www.sprewellracing.com
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1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
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Totaled a game-high 30 points in a 95-83 win over Atlanta on 3/24
Posted 24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a 93-80 win over
San Antonio on 3/12 Scored a season-high 33 points in a 118-113
OT loss at Washington on 3/8 Netted a game-high 32 points in a
109-84 win over Milwaukee on 3/2 Poured in 32 points in a 120-111
win over Sacramento on 1/30 Recorded 30 points and 4 steals in
a 112-109 OT win over Charlotte on 12/20 Posted a game-high 31
points in an 85-78 win over Philadelphia on 12/10 Notched 30 points
in a 99-96 win over Orlando on 11/27 Registered 32 points in a
100-95 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on 11/23 Totaled 14 points,
6 rebounds and 5 assists in his first game in Golden State since
he was a member of the Warriors (11/20) Scored 22 points and pulled
down 11 rebounds in a 102-93 loss in Cleveland on 11/5
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1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
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Averaged 17.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg and 1.39 spg in Knicks wins
and led the Knicks in scoring in 12 games Registered a game-high
30 points (11-17 FG, 3-3 3FG, 5-6 FT), 4 steals and 3 rebounds
in an 85-70 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on 4/29 Posted a game-high
29 points (8-12 FG, 12-15 FT) and 3 steals against the Atlanta
Hawks on 4/28 Scored 10 of his 23 points in the 4th quarter, and
grabbed 3 rebounds, in a 94-87 victory over the Phoenix Suns on
3/26 Totaled a game-high 27 points (10-17 FG) and 5 rebounds in
a 96-78 victory over the Boston Celtics on 3/20 Recorded a season
and game-high 31 points (11-17 FG) and 4 rebounds in a 113-89
victory over the L.A. Clippers on 3/16 Registered a team-high
28 points (7-14 FG, 2-3 3FG, 12-14 FT), 3 assists and 3 rebounds
in a 108-102 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on 3/15 On the injured
list from 2/10 to 3/5, missing 13 games, due to a stress fracture
in his right heel Made his Knicks debut, posting a game-high 24
points and 6 rebounds, against the Orlando Magic on 2/5
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1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
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Arbritator John Feerick reduced 82-game suspension to 68 games
on 3/4 Waived by the Warriors on 12/4 for conduct detrimental
to the team and suspended by the NBA for one year, through 12/3/98,
without pay Registered a game-high 30 points, 3 rebounds and 3
assists against the Utah Jazz on 11/28 Recorded a game-high 28
points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds against the Houston Rockets on
11/22 Posted team-highs of 28 points and 7 assists and grabbed
7 rebounds in a 101-97 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks
on 11/20 Totaled a game-high 45 points, one short of his career-high,
7 assists and 3 rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves on
10/31
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1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON
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Sprewell asserted himself as one of the NBA's premier scorers
by averaging a career-high 24.2 ppg, fifth-highest in the league.
He scored in double figures in 78 of the 80 games he played, getting
20+ 57 times, 30+ 17 times and 40+ six times, including a career-high
46 points (plus 10 rebounds and five steals) in a 105-93 win over
Dallas on Jan. 21. His six 40-point games were the most by a Warrior
since Purvis Short scored 40 or more eight times in 1984-85. But
he did more for the Warriors than just score. He also led the
team in minutes (41.9 mpg, third in the NBA), three-pointers made
(147) and attempted (415), tied for the team lead in steals (1.65
spg, 22nd in the NBA), ranked second in assists (6.3 apg, 18th
in the NBA) and third in rebounding (4.6 rpg). He posted career-highs
in three-pointers made and attempted, assists and free throw percentage
(.843, 19th in the NBA). Sprewell posted 15 double-doubles and
the first triple-double of his career, getting 31 points, 11 rebounds
and 11 assists in a 122-115 overtime loss at Phoenix on March
28. He barely missed another triple-double against Philadelphia
on Jan. 3 when he had 39 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
He handed out a career-high 13 assists in a 120-103 victory over
San Antonio on April 5, and he matched his career-high with 13
rebounds in the season-opening 97-85 loss to the Clippers on Nov.
1. Sprewell shot 22-for-25 from the foul line against the Clippers
on March 10, both highs for the NBA in 1996-97. His 585 free throw
attempts were the most by a Warrior since Short attempted 613
in 1984-85, and his 493 free throws made were the most by a Warrior
since Chris Mullin had 513 in 1990-91. Selected by the Western
Conference coaches to the All-Star Game in Cleveland, Sprewell
led the West with 19 points and also had three rebounds, two steals
and one assists in 25 minutes. He had four dazzling dunks in the
game, including a fast-break alley-oop and a slam over Scottie
Pippen.
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1995-1996 REGULAR SEASON
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Sprewell was a force for the Warriors at both ends of the court,
leading the team in scoring at 18.9 ppg and steals at 1.63 spg.
He also led Warriors in minutes played at 39.3 mpg and contributed
4.9 rpg and 4.2 apg, ranking 10th in the NBA in minutes and 16th
in steals. He shot .428 from the field, .789 from the line and
.323 from three-point range, ranking second on the Warriors with
91 treys. In the Warriors' unsuccessful drive for the final playoff
berth, he averaged 25.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.0 apg and 1.6 spg in the
last eight games of the season, shooting .486 from the field,
more than 50 points above his season average. Sprewell scored
in double figures 67 times, 20 points or more 37 times and 30
points or more eight times, the Warriors winning six of those
eight games. He had a season-high 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting
in a 117-96 win at Atlanta on Dec. 29. He posted three double-doubles,
including 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against Philadelphia
on Jan. 3. He twice handed out nine assists, at Milwaukee on Jan.
18 and against Denver on April 4. One of his best overall games
came in a 99-94 win over Milwaukee on March 16. He had 31 points,
six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Sprewell started 78
games, missing four in November due to an infection and swelling
in his left elbow following a collision with Jamal Mashburn of
Dallas on Nov. 18.
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1994-1995 REGULAR SEASON
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Sprewell should have followed his breakthrough season of 1993-94
with an even more superlative year in 1994-95, but team turmoil
and personal grievances made it a trying campaign for the third-year
guard. Upset by the trade that sent Chris Webber to the Washington
Bullets, Sprewell spent much of the year wearing Webber's number
on the back of his playing shoes. He was suspended twice for conduct
detrimental to the team and missed 13 games altogether, the highest
total of his career. Despite his personal troubles, Sprewell became
the first Warriors guard to start in an All-Star Game since Guy
Rogers in 1966 and was the youngest Warriors player to start in
an All-Star Game since Rick Barry, also in 1966. Sprewell totaled
9 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals in the All-Star
contest. His numbers dropped in several categories in 1994-95.
He shot just .418 from the floor, the lowest mark of his career,
and .276 from three-point range, down from .361 in 1993-94. He
finished the season with a scoring average of 20.6 points per
game, just below his 21.0 average of the previous year, to finish
17th in the league. He shot .827 from the free-throw line in the
season's final month to push his free-throw percentage to a career-best
.781. One of the best backcourt defenders in the league, Sprewell
outscored opposing off guards by an average of 4.4 points per
game. He led the Warriors with an average of 1.62 steals per game
and registered 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per outing.
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1993-1994 REGULAR SEASON
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No NBA player raised his stock higher than Sprewell did in 1993-94.
Once an unheralded prospect out of the University of Alabama and
a late first-round draft pick in 1992, Sprewell became the best
shooting guard in the NBA in only his second season. When injuries
sidelined both Tim Hardaway and Sarunas Marciulionis for the entire
year and Chris Mullin for the first part of the season, Golden
State Warriors Coach Don Nelson leaned on Sprewell to pick up
the slack in the backcourt. Sprewell played more minutes (3,533)
than any other NBA player in 1993-94. However, the young guard
was up to the challenge. A talented all-around player who could
shoot, drive, and defend, Sprewell led the Warriors in scoring
with 21.0 points per game. He also averaged 4.9 rebounds and 4.7
assists, canned 141 three-pointers, and notched 180 steals. If
Sprewell went through his rookie season relatively unnoticed,
he earned plenty of accolades in his sophomore campaign. At midseason
he was selected to play in his first NBA All-Star Game and tallied
9 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist in 15 minutes of play. At age
23, he was the youngest member of the Warriors to play in an All-Star
Game since 22-year-old Keith Wilkes (later Jamaal Wilkes) represented
Golden State in 1976. At season's end, Sprewell was named to the
All-NBA First Team at off guard, taking a spot that had been occupied
by Michael Jordan for the previous eight years. For good measure
he was also selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In
addition to leading Golden State in scoring during the regular
season, Sprewell also finished second on the club in point production
during the postseason, averaging 22.7 points. Despite his efforts,
the Warriors were swept by the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
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1992-1993 REGULAR SEASON
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Latrell Sprewell didn't play varsity basketball until his senior
year in high school, when he averaged 28 points. Although he wasn't
recruited by a Division I school, Sprewell was an All-Southeastern
Conference selection as a senior at Alabama, averaging 17.8 points,
5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. Warriors fans booed the selection
of yet another midsized player when Golden State selected Sprewell
with the 24th pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. They were hoping the
Warriors would go for a bigger man. The fans aren't booing now.
Sprewell was one of the league's most compelling success stories,
averaging 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals,
and 35.6 minutes in 77 games. Injuries to other players forced
him to start 69 games at both guard slots. He was named to the
NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Sprewell became the first rookie in
club history to register at least 1,000 points, 250 rebounds,
250 assists, 100 steals, and 50 blocks in a season. Among active
players this season, only Michael Jordan, Ron Harper, Willie Anderson,
and Lionel Simmons achieved those milestones as rookies. And only
Jordan, Harper, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen,
David Robinson, Karl Malone, Reggie Lewis, Reggie Williams, and
Nick Anderson matched that feat in 1992-93. Sprewell was the fifth-leading
scorer among rookies. He ranked first in assists and three-point
shooting and second in steals. He led the Warriors in minutes
(2,741)-the first rookie to do so since Joe Barry Carroll in 1980-81.
Sprewell made 73 of 198 three-pointers to rank third in NBA history
among rookies, behind only Dennis Scott (125) and Dana Barros
(95). He scored in double figures 61 times, including 23 straight
to end the season, and led the team in scoring 14 times. Sprewell
burned the Los Angeles Lakers for 36 points, adding 9 rebounds
and 9 assists, in a 122-116 overtime win on April 8. It was the
highest-scoring performance by a Warriors rookie since Mitch Richmond's
37 on March 31, 1989.
Taken
from NBA.com
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