Sprewell’s Contract Threatened

Banned from practice and team facilities Tuesday, Latrell Sprewell was in jeopardy of having his four-year, $32-million contract terminated after an attack on Coach P.J. Carlesimo.

The three-time all-star and leading scorer for the Golden State Warriors was suspended without pay for 10 games after two confrontations with Carlesimo at practice Monday. During the first, Sprewell put his hands around the coach’s throat and reportedly threatened to “kill” him; during the second, 20 minutes later, he landed a glancing punch to Carlesimo’s neck.

In the aftermath, the team tried to sort its options, which include trading Sprewell, patching things up between player and coach, or terminating his contract, signed only two summers ago.

The suspension will cost Sprewell about $940,000 in salary.

Sprewell was in Oakland on Tuesday and was unavailable for comment. His agent, Arn Tellem, did not return phone calls.

Bay Area newspapers quoted team sources as saying Sprewell attacked Carlesimo after the coach made a comment during a shooting drill, and General Manager Garry St. Jean confirmed those reports.

Rod Thorn, the NBA executive in charge of disciplinary matters, said the incident was a team matter and that the league would not comment until it learned more.

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Philadelphia 76er forward Derrick Coleman, sidelined since Nov. 21 because of an irregular heartbeat, underwent a procedure that successfully shocked his heart back to a normal rhythm, the team said. Blood-thinning medicine will keep Coleman sidelined until at least Dec. 15.

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Toronto Raptor forward Popeye Jones is expected to sit out the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday against the Lakers. . . . Seattle put forward Jerome Kersey (stress fracture of the left foot) on the injured list and activated guard James Cotton, who had been nursing a sprained knee. Kersey is expected to sit out six to eight weeks. . . . Cleveland waived Greg Graham a little more than a month after acquiring the guard in a trade with Denver. . . . Portland put guard John Crotty on the injured list because of a sore right knee and signed free agent guard Rick Brunson.