Former player Sprewell questioned in assault investigation

MILWAUKEE -- Police questioned former NBA player Latrell Sprewell on Wednesday in connection with a sexual assault allegation.

A 21-year-old Milwaukee woman reported a sexual assault on a boat at the McKinley Marina on Tuesday, but Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz would not discuss the specifics of that alleged assault.

Schwartz said Sprewell, of River Hills, voluntarily appeared at the police department's downtown offices with his attorneys and gave police permission to search his boat. Schwartz declined to say if Sprewell, who's scheduled to meet with the district attorney's office Thursday afternoon, was a suspect in the assault.

Messages were left seeking comment from Sprewell's attorneys, Steven Kohn and Jonathan Smith.

Sprewell, 35, played 13 NBA seasons, most recently with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2004-05 season.

He was a four-time All-Star, but remains most known for several off-court incidents -- including a 68-game suspension after choking Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo at a practice in 1997.

The NBA suspended him for one game in 2004 after he yelled a sexual vulgarity at a female fan who was heckling him during a game.

In December 2003, Sprewell was fined $25,000 by the NBA for cursing at New York Knicks chairman James Dolan and screaming at the team's bench. In 1999, Sprewell was fined $10,000 for making profane remarks to fans during a game.

In November 2004, he received a misdemeanor citation after arguing with a police officer during a traffic stop. Sprewell, who was a passenger in the vehicle, claimed he was treated unfairly.

A native of Milwaukee, Sprewell didn't play varsity basketball until his senior year at Washington High School, when he averaged 28 points per game. He played at a junior college before becoming a standout at Alabama.