Where are They Now: Latrell Sprewell

 

Retired NBA bad boy Latrell Sprewell has seen the highs and lows of basketball and life. This once superstar of the NBA had it all from the money, fans, yachts and homes. There was nothing that this swingman yearned for. Drafted in 1992 as the 24^th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors, his future was bright. In his rookie season he came out gunning and making a statement to the league that he will be a star in due time. What over shadowed his good career was the 1997 incident with then head coach P.J. Carlesimo, where he chocked him for what Spree called it as he was being antagonized for not making better passes in practice. That was the black eye of his career.

Spree resurrected his career when he played for the New York Knicks where he led them to the 1999 NBA Finals in a lockout season. However, it wasn’t enough as the San Antonio Spurs not just beat the Knicks they slapped them around to capture their first NBA title led by David Robinson and young Tim Duncan. I can definitely say when Sprewell was playing in the league he did give it his all and left it out all on the floor. Spree was known for his great defense and a consistent jump shot that he developed and mastered while playing for the Knicks.

It all came to an end when he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2003, but Spree still flourished on the scene and led that team to their first Western Conference Championship. That wasn’t enough for Spree. He wanted even more and more money; even at 35 years of age a 3year/$21 million extension wasn’t enough. His quote was “This isn’t enough to feed my family”. If that isn’t enough to put steaks and shrimps on the kitchen table, I don’t know what is. So that is where his career ended in a money battle for top dollar for an aging shooting guard.

It just didn’t end there guys. Spree had so much money problems after his career that he didn’t know how hard he was going to be hit. His $100 million fortune was blown over his career and through his short retirement. Now Sprewell is soaking in his hands with two foreclosed homes and a massive yacht that was auctioned for almost $1 million. This is truly a sad story because at a time Sprewell was well beloved in New York and was the superstar that we needed when Patrick Ewing aged. I can tell you there hasn’t been another player to put on the Knick uniform that has taken his place on intensity and the will to win. Maybe Carmelo can be that, but we are still waiting. Tell me your thoughts of Sprewell and what he has done for the New York Knicks?