Latrell Sprewell would like to be a Golden State Warrior again, providing P.J Carlesimo isn’t coach.
“I’d love to be back here if he wasn’t here,” Sprewell said Tuesday in a meeting with San Francisco Bay area reporters.
“I’ve never had a problem with anyone else, not even the assistant coaches,” he said.
Sprewell was suspended from the team for attacking Carlesimo during a practice session.
He admitted Sunday on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that he had his hands around the coach’s neck. But he said the marks on Carlesimo’s neck were made by his nails and prove he wasn’t choking the coach.
Sprewell 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.
