“I have a family to feed” Latrell Sprewell declined a $21 million NBA contract and lost his career due to personal antics
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Everyone makes errors. There is no getting around that. Unfortunately for people participating in professional sports, the decisions they make throughout the course of their careers have a considerably larger impact on how we see them.
Some have made blunders that have forced them to abandon their sport, while others have just waited too long to leave the game, which has harmed their legacy. Others have done things that have harmed the enjoyment of the sport they play, leaving supporters dissatisfied with something they formerly felt was fantastic. One such player is Latrell Sprewell who often made headlines for the wrong reasons.
The rise and fall of Latrell Sprewell
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Latrell Sprewell played at the University of Alabama for two years after finishing his community college career. The Golden State Warriors picked him with the 24th overall pick in 1992.Sprewell worked hard in the early stages of his career, eventually becoming the Western Conference All-Star team’s leading scorer from 1994 to 1997. His personal antics, though, would continue to eclipse his physical skills.
He choked his coach, P.J. Cale Simo, in 1997 while playing for the Golden State Warriors. That event alone has been a problem that he will never be able to shake, and it has caused many teams to be wary of signing him. As a result of the incident, Sprewell was out of work and had lost a three-year, $23.7 million contract.
Regardless, Sprewell would remain one of the league’s most highly acclaimed talents. He finished his career with an average of 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and four assists. And because of these stats, teams were still interested in bringing him on board. Latrell Sprewell put forth a strong showing as a league veteran after his first season in Minnesota. The side advanced to the Western Conference Finals that year, but were defeated by the then-dynamic pair of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. The Timberwolves offered Sprewell a contract extension for $21 million because of his strong play on the court, but he declined, stating, “I have a family to feed.”
Things began to go apart for the NBA superstar after that. Latrell Sprewell was hit with a $200 million lawsuit. According to court records, Sprewell was forced to sell his yacht to help pay off the $1.3 million he owed on the boat. His home was also foreclosed on due to missed payments from September 2007 to January 2008.
However, that is not how the narrative ends. Latrell Sprewell is going through a period of redemption. According to his Instagram bio, he is working with his previous team, the New York Knicks, on community relations. The 51-year-old is also a Madison Square Garden media personality.
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