Last Golden State Warriors All Star Starter (Photo: HoopsManifesto.com)
Following Latrell Sprewell‘s All-Star appearance in 1995 and the break-up of the organization’s main nucleus, the young star continued to rack up individual stats and accolades for the next couple seasons.
But, the team was never the same and the Warriors got progressively worse each year until bottoming out in 1997 with just 19 wins.
This didn’t stop the team, however, from putting all its future eggs into the rugged guard’s playing basket.
“Sprewell again led his team in scoring, steals, and minutes played, but the Warriors failed to make the playoffs and the club’s star guard missed the All-Star game. Still management felt good enough about Sprewell, despite his sometimes petulant behavior with coaches and teammates, to sign him to a huge new contract, a four-year deal worth $32 million. Sprewell’s 1996-97 season seemed to justify the team’s decision. Sprewell finished fifth in the league in scoring with a 24.2 points per game average and scored in double figures in 78 of his 80 games. Aside from his scoring, he also led the team in minutes averaging 41.9 minutes per game, three-pointers, and tied for the team lead in steals. Sprewell made it back to the All-Star game as a coach’s selection and led the Western Conference team in scoring with 19 points.” — Michael J Watkins
Meanwhile, the coaching carousel that Sprewell had started with Don Nelson now had circled from a failed Rick Adelman to PJ Carlesimo for that famed 1997-98 season.
Combining Carlesimo’s rigid college style teaching tactics with Sprewell’s need to be left alone was like putting gas on a fire.
Early in that season the two began to butt heads over playing style, technique and overall attitude.
On December 1st, during practice it all came to an explosive conclusion.
“When Carlesimo yelled at Sprewell to make crisper passes (specifically asking him to “put a little mustard” on a pass), Sprewell responded that he was not in the mood for criticism and told the coach to keep his distance. When Carlesimo approached, Sprewell threatened to kill him and dragged him backwards by his throat, choking him for 7–10 seconds before his teammates and assistant coaches pulled Sprewell off his coach. Sprewell returned about 20 minutes later after showering and changing and again accosted Carlesimo. He landed a glancing blow at Carlesimo’s right cheek before being dragged away again by the assistant coaches.”
Needless to say, the Warriors voided Sprewell’s remaining contract a midst public outcry.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=430A5DT2q3Y&w=420&h=315]
Sprewell’s days in the blue and gold were over and the team itself wouldn’t return to any prominent spotlight until the “We Believe” season in 2007.
Meanwhile, Sprewell after sitting out the rest of the season while the Players’ Association and lawyers fought over rightful pay, returned to the NBA via a trade with the New York Knicks.
Under the New York spotlight Sprewell continued to showcase his court skills for five seasons, earning a new five year, $62-million contract extension while helping his new found teammates on a run to the championship before succumbing to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in 2000.
After modest success in the Big Apple, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for two more seasons before turning down one more 3-year deal with a final quote that once again placed him negatively in the public eye.
“On October 31, 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves offered Sprewell a 3-year, $21 million contract extension, substantially less than what his then-current contract paid him. Claiming to feel insulted by the offer, he publicly expressed outrage, declaring, “I have a family to feed … If Glen Taylor wants to see my family fed, he better cough up some money. Otherwise, you’re going to see these kids in one of those Sally Struthers commercials soon.”
The long and always troubled career of the last Warriors All-Star Game starter had come to a close.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjLXF4MiY44&w=420&h=315]
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