Knicks fine Sprewell $250,000

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Latrell Sprewell was fined $250,000 Monday by the New York Knicks, who also told him to stay away from the team until he can make "a positive contribution."

Sprewell was punished for failing to tell the team that he broke a bone in his shooting hand two weeks before training camp started. He had surgery last week and is out at least six weeks.

The fine is just the latest problem for Sprewell, who has a history of run-ins with his teams. In 1997, while with the Golden State Warriors, he was suspended for 68 games for choking coach P.J. Carlesimo during a practice. The suspension cost him $6.4 million in salary.

Knicks president Scott Layden met with Sprewell for 20 minutes at the team's practice facility Monday. Sprewell told team officials he broke his hand when he tripped and fell on his yacht.

Layden emphasized that Sprewell was not officially suspended, but no time frame was given for the four-time All-Star's return to the team.

"He has a responsibility to let us know. He had an obligation to do that," said Madison Square Garden president Steve Mills, who also met with Sprewell, along with coach Don Chaney.

Sprewell left practice without speaking to reporters. Layden described the player as "upset" by the punishment.

Layden admitted the Knicks are taking a different tack than they had in the past in disciplining Sprewell, whose transgressions were often excused by the team. Sprewell skipped all of training camp in 1999 without explanation, and he routinely has arrived late for games during his four seasons in New York.

The Knicks acquired Sprewell from Golden State before the 1998-99 season.

"The approach we've taken thus far has not been effective. We need to try something different," Layden said.