Sprewell: It Was No Choke

The Golden State Warriors’ Latrell Sprewell insists he never choked his coach in a case that landed him one of the harshest punishments in professional sports.

Sprewell acknowledged Sunday on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that he had his hands around the neck of P.J. Carlesimo, coach of the Warriors. But he said the marks on Carlesimo’s neck were made by his nails and prove he wasn’t choking the coach.

“If you’re choking someone, you don’t get scratches. You get welts totally around your neck,” Sprewell said in his first public comments since an arbitrator reduced his punishment Wednesday. “I wasn’t choking P.J. I mean, P.J., he could breathe. It’s not like he was losing air or anything like that. . . . I wasn’t trying to kill P.J.”

Warrior spokesman Eric McDowell said the team would not comment on Sprewell’s remarks.

Sprewell, 27, attacked Carlesimo--known as a strict taskmaster--at practice Dec. 1. Two days later, the Warriors terminated the remaining three years on Sprewell’s $32-million contract. The following day, the NBA suspended Sprewell for a year.

But arbitrator John Feerick ruled the dual penalties were too harsh. He reinstated the contract and reduced the suspension to the end of the season, which will still be an NBA-record 68 games.

Sprewell will forfeit $6.4 million in salary for this season, but the Warriors are responsible for the final two years and $17.3 million of his deal.

After the attack, Sprewell left the practice gym. He returned about 15 minutes later and was restrained by teammates. The former All-Star guard said he did not try to hit Carlesimo at that time.

Sprewell said a confrontation with Carlesimo had been brewing for some time, and that it stemmed from a lack of respect by the coach.

“It was all about P.J. disrespecting me as a man,” he said. “To have my pride and my respect and my manhood means more than any dollar amount.”

The arbitrator said Sprewell must undergo counseling before returning to the NBA, but Sprewell said the widespread debate stemming from the attack has provided all the counseling he needs.

“It’s like I’ve been in counseling watching TV, you know,” he said. “I’ve been counseled so much.”

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The New Jersey Nets placed center Jayson Williams on the injured list because of a strained abdominal muscle.