Latrell Fontaine Sprewell is a former NBA star who played for the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was born on September 8, 1970 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Washington High School in Milwaukee where he played basketball. Between 1988 to 1990, he played with the Three Rivers Community College’s Raiders Basketball Team in Missouri and then from 1990 to 1992 he played with the University of Alabama, alongside future NBA stars Robert Horry, Jason Caffey and James Robinson. In the 1992 NBA Draft, he was selected 24th by the Golden State Warriors. During his rookie season with the Warriors, he started in 69 out of 77 games and averaged 15.4 points per game. He worked consistently to improve his performance over the next few years, and became the leading scorer for his team during the Western Conference All-Star team between 1994 to 1997.
Despite his popularity on the team, his teammates were vary of him because he had no control over his temper. During a practice game in 1995, he fought with his teammate Jerome Kersey, wanting to attack him with a large block of lumber and even threatening to bring a gun. Earlier in 1993, he had a fight with another teammate Bryon Houston. A major incident took place in December 1997, when he attacked his coach P. J. Carlesimo for yelling at him during practice. Sprewell grabbed Carlesimo by the throat and dragged him for 10 seconds, before his teammates intervened. Later, he attacked Carlesimo again, this time landing a heavy blow on his cheek.
Latrell Sprewellwas suspended for 10 games without pay, but the public were very angry and demanded stricter justice. As a result, the Warriors voided his remaining contract (worth $23.7 million over three years) and the NBA suspended him for one year. Sprewell contested the decision in front of the arbitration committee and his sentence was reduced to a suspension for the remaining 68 games of the season. He was also put under three months of house arrest, after being charged with