Latrell Sprewell

An explosive scorer whose brilliance was overshadowed by a legendary off-court meltdown.

Latrell Sprewell arrived in New York in February 1999 following an NBA lockout, joining the Knicks for John Starks, Chris Mills, and Terry Cummings. Though many pundits viewed trading for a player with his volatile history as a massive gamble, Sprewell vowed to be a changed man. He became a crucial part of the team that shocked the league by reaching the 1999 NBA Finals as an eighth seed, narrowly falling to the San Antonio Spurs in five games. During that run, he averaged 26.0 points per game and posted a 35-point, 10-rebound performance in the Game 5 loss.

Quick Facts

Born: 8 September 1970
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
College: Three Rivers (1988–1990); Alabama (1990–1992)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 24
Drafted by: Golden State Warriors
Career number: 15, 8
Career position: Shooting guard; small forward

Lore & Background

Sprewell's tenure with the Knicks is defined by two distinct eras: miraculous playoff runs and a singular, career-altering incident. After helping the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in the 1999-2000 season, he signed a five-year, $62 million contract extension. However, the narrative shifted dramatically on December 1, 1997, an event that preceded his arrival but defined his reputation. When Warriors coach P. J. Carlesimo criticized his passing, Sprewell threatened to kill him, choked the coach for 7 to 10 seconds, and returned minutes later to land a blow. This led to a year-long suspension by the NBA (68 games), which he served before joining New York.

Reader's Guide

Sprewell's role with the Knicks evolved from a bench contributor in his first partial season to a starting small forward who led the offense after Patrick Ewing was traded. He made his only All-Star appearance with New York during the 2000-2001 season, averaging 17.7 points per game. Known for his physical play and ability to score over 40 points in single games—such as a 49-point outburst against the Boston Celtics in 2001-2002—he was a scoring machine who could take over a series. However, his tenure ended abruptly after the 2002-2003 season when he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a four-team deal involving Keith Van Horn.

Did You Know?

Sprewell hit 9 of 9 three-point shots in one game versus the Los Angeles Clippers, a record later tied by Ben Gordon and Jalen Brunson.
He was fined a record $250,000 by the Knicks for failing to report his broken hand sustained on his yacht.