In re Latrell Sprewell
Arbitration Proceeding
NBA-NBPA Arb. (1998)
During a heated practice exchange, Latrell Sprewell (plaintiff), star player for the Golden State Warriors, cursed at head coach PJ Carlesimo, lunged at him, put his hands around his throat (requiring coaches and players to intervene), then returned to the floor and managed to punch Carlesimo despite others trying to keep them separated; the Warriors terminated Sprewell's contract, and the NBA commissioner separately suspended him for one year. Sprewell filed a grievance challenging the team's contract termination, which was heard by an arbitrator.
Whether a professional basketball team has just cause for terminating a player's contract when the basketball league itself has already issued the player a severe punishment for the same underlying conduct.