The NBA boasts an endless number of supremely talented athletes. While most of them go on to achieve great things and be remembered for good even after retirement, there are some who couldn’t show their full potential due to several reasons. One such athlete is Latrell Sprewell, whose career was overshadowed by his actions.
While the history books remember Sprewell for choking his coach, his ex-teammate Kevin Garnett recently recalled him for his heroics.
Kevin Garnett puts the real Latrell Sprewell on display
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Sprewell’s story in the NBA is very interesting. The athlete who was once said to be absolutely unstoppable by any opposition is now remembered for one incident that changed his life. He joined the league in 1992 till 2005 and made four All-Star appearances. However, these numbers don’t do justice to his abilities as an athlete. In the 1999 NBA Finals series alone, Sprewell was one of the best performers in the league. He averaged 26 points per game and was the second-best in terms of PPG, only behind the great Tim Duncan. While he could have been remembered for something else, the one incident in 1997 cast a shadow on his career.
However, recently, his ex-teammate Kevin Garnett remembered the NBA veteran for what he was on the court. The Boston Celtics legend posted a compilation clip of the 53-year-old. In the clip, the ex-Minnesota Timberwolves star can be seen showcasing his incredible abilities as an athlete. Sharing the clip on his Instagram story, Garnett wrote “Good Morning” and he also tagged the ex-NBA star. Although KG had a significantly longer stint at the Wolves, he and Sprewell were in the franchise from 2003-2005. It is unfortunate that the 53-year-old is infamous for something that happened decades ago.
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The Latrell Sprewell controversy
Every hoop fan who was fortunate enough to witness Sprewell during his prime knows him for his prowess as an athlete. However, the impact of the 1997 incident was such that he unfortunately never recovered from it. During one of the practice sessions with the Golden State Warriors, he choked his coach P. J. Carlesimo, and threatened to kill him.
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“There was just a buildup of anger and frustration and having it all bottled up and not being able to express myself. At that point, it just came to a head”, Sprewell had said about the incident. For his actions, he received a 68-game suspension and never played for the Warriors again.
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