Sprewell Reportedly Will Sue NBA

The NBA says it has been told that Latrell Sprewell plans to file a lawsuit seeking damages stemming from his suspension for choking Golden State Warrior Coach P.J. Carlesimo.

“We have been informed by attorneys representing Latrell Sprewell that they are planning to file a lawsuit based upon a claim that Dean Feerick’s arbitration award, which upheld a suspension of 68 games, somehow violated Sprewell’s rights, the antitrust laws and the labor laws,” said a statement Monday by Jeffrey Mishkin, the NBA’s chief legal officer.

“Any such claim would be totally absurd,” the statement said.

An attorney for Sprewell, Robert Thompson of Atlanta, said Sprewell has not filed a lawsuit--and has not decided whether he will.

Sprewell attacked Carlesimo during practice on Dec. 1, resulting in a one-year suspension--the longest in NBA history. The Warriors terminated the remaining three years on Sprewell’s $32 million contract.

But arbitrator Feerick ruled March 4 that the contract termination and suspension were excessive. He ordered that Sprewell be reinstated by the Warriors and the suspension end on July 1.

Sprewell missed 68 games, accounting for about $6.4 million in lost wages.

The NBA Players’ Association said it would not condone the lawsuit. Sprewell’s agent, Arn Tellem, was unavailable for comment.

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The Phoenix Suns will renounce their rights to Kevin Johnson on July 1, opening up the possibility that the point guard will be in another uniform next season.

“Kevin was a tremendous contributor to this team and the community over the last 11 years,” team president Jerry Colangelo said in a statement Monday. “We will be retiring his No. 7 in the short-term future to represent all he has done.”

Said Johnson through the Suns: “I’ve been extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to play for one of the finest organizations in sports.”

Johnson did not comment on his future.

Despite the amicable language of the announcement, it has been understood for months that Johnson wouldn’t return. The acquisition of Jason Kidd on Dec. 26, 1996, forced Johnson to play shooting guard or come off the bench.

Johnson, 32, a three-time all-star, was limited because of injuries to 50 games and started 12. He averaged career lows of 9.5 points and 4.9 assists.

Johnson scored his 13,000th career point on March 29 and finished the season with 6,687 assists to pass Archibald for 10th in NBA career totals.