http://www.startribune.com/stories/511/5081939.html Van Gundy: Spree plays all-out Kent Youngblood, Star Tribune November 12, 2004 SPRE1112 HOUSTON -- Jeff Van Gundy has a message for Timberwolves fans: Don't worry about Latrell Sprewell playing hard. Van Gundy is coach of the Houston Rockets, but he coached Latrell Sprewell in New York. Before Thursday's game Van Gundy went to some lengths to defend his former player. "He's never given anything less than all-out effort," said Van Gundy, who coached Sprewell for four seasons with the Knicks. "So the fans of Minnesota would have no worries. That's not him. He's going to play, all-out, every night." Sprewell has come under criticism for comments he made regarding his desire for a contract extension, particularly his words regarding the need to feed his family and helping the Wolves win a title. Van Gundy said that's not the Sprewell he knows. "He's very intelligent, he's very well thought-out," Van Gundy said. "And the business of basketball -- which he is involved with right now as far as the contract and all those things -- he in no way meant to imply that he hasn't made enough money to feed his family. He meant to say a basketball player has a shelf life of only so long, and he's trying to maximize his volume." And his competitive nature? "I think he is, by nature, with a lot of what he's gone through in his life, he's a combative, competitive person who is highly energetic and highly emotional," Van Gundy said. Sprewell clearly has played hard this season, but comments have prompted criticism in the media and, on Tuesday night, from a vocal fan behind the Wolves bench. But Sprewell said that doesn't bother him. "I don't take it personally," Sprewell said. "I don't take anything the fans say personally. I think, overall, they do [cheer]. I've dealt with stuff like that. ... I play hard, I always have." On that issue, Van Gundy couldn't have been more emphatic. "He played with a bone broken in his foot one year in the playoffs," Van Gundy said. "This is not a guy who is all about himself, the way he's being portrayed. When I had him, all he was was about the team." -- 湖人版主王小猪 高大又帅气。才气人气兼备。人品球品俱佳。 有挡头搁乒乓叫。 徵辣妹数名。 意者请回我的信箱。 --

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