Sprewell to Tell His Side Today

Latrell Sprewell and his former coach, P.J. Carlesimo, apologized to each other in a phone call Sprewell made over the weekend, according to sources close to both sides.

Sprewell had his contract terminated and was slapped with a year’s suspension last week for choking Carlesimo and then attacking him a second time after the Golden State Warrior coach had thrown him out of practice.

Sprewell told Carlesimo in their telephone conversation that he regretted what he had done and Carlesimo, in turn, said he believed the situation could have been handled better, the sources said.

Sprewell is expected to expound further on the matter at a 2:30 p.m. news conference today at an Oakland hotel.

Carlesimo was unable to comment on the apology and will not be able to say anything after today’s news conference, a Warrior official said.

“Due to litigation, no one in the organization can comment,� said Eric McDowell, director of media relations for the Warriors.

Kurt Robinson, a legal counsel for Sprewell, told a San Francisco radio station Monday that Sprewell “actually wanted to talk to him [Carlesimo] face to face, but he is banned [from all sites used by NBA teams under the terms of the suspension.]

“The apology was accepted and he [Carlesimo] apologized to Spree. Absolutely. [Sprewell] is concerned with the man-to-man issues with Carlesimo.�

On a San Francisco television station, Sprewell admitted Wednesday, two days after the incident, that he made a mistake in attacking Carlesimo, who is in his first season with Golden State. Sprewell, a 27-year-old guard in his sixth season, said he snapped because of what he considered verbal abuse by the coach.

In that Wednesday interview, Sprewell apologized to his family and friends, but not to Carlesimo.

A three-time All-Star and the Warriors’ first-round draft choice in 1992, Sprewell was at first suspended last Monday for at least 10 games without pay by Golden State.

Upon further review, the Warriors on Wednesday terminated the remainder of his four-year, $32-million contract with the team, which had 2 1/2 seasons to run at $23.7 million. This is the first time in the 52-year history of the NBA that a player has had his contract terminated because of insubordination.

Then, the ultimate blow was added one day later when Sprewell was suspended by the NBA untilDec. 3, 1998.

The NBA Players’ Assn. has since filed grievances over the termination of the contract and the suspension.

Expected to attend today’s news conference along with Sprewell are Robinson, agent Arn Tellum, lawyer Johnnie Cochran and officials of the players association.