Sprewell Sues the NBA, Warriors for $30 Million Over Suspension

Latrell Sprewell sued the NBA and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, asking for more than $30 million in lost wages and damages he claims were caused by his suspension for attacking Coach P.J. Carlesimo.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Oakland, alleges the star guard was punished several times--by both team and league--for the same offense and that the suspension kept him from working and “halted any hopes for a trade to another team.”

The suit seeks as much as $30 million, including Sprewell’s lost wages of $6.4 million, which could be tripled under federal antitrust statutes, and attorneys’ and court fees. Sprewell also seeks additional, unspecified damages.

“Mr. Sprewell believes he was treated unfairly by the league and by the Warriors and that the full story has not yet come out,” Sprewell’s legal advisor, Robert Gist, said at a news conference.

Sprewell did not attend the news conference, but his attorneys said he planned to issue a statement within a few weeks. Atlanta attorney Robert Thompson, representing Sprewell in the lawsuit, appeared Wednesday with Gist.

The Golden State Warriors said they would not comment on the suit.

Jeffrey Mishkin, NBA executive vice president and chief legal advisor, released a statement saying: “This is a poorly disguised attempt by Mr. Sprewell’s new attorneys to reargue claims that have already been rejected and put to rest by an arbitrator.”

The suit also alleges violations of federal and state civil rights and racial discrimination laws.

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While most teams go through youth movements, the Washington Wizards are getting older on purpose. On Wednesday, the team introduced its two newest players--Mitch Richmond, 32, and Otis Thorpe, 35, in Washington.

“I feel like I’m 28 again,” said Richmond, dealt along with Thorpe by the Sacramento Kings to the Wizards for troubled star Chris Webber, 25. “I think as you get older, you get better.”

Washington hopes Richmond and Thorpe can help clean up a tarnished image; the team that didn’t even make the playoffs was known more for its off-court legal problems last season than any on-court success.