SuperSonics Suspend Payton for Blowup With Westphal

S E A T T L E, Nov. 22 -- All-Star point guard Gary Payton was suspendedfor at least one game by the Seattle SuperSonics today for anargument with coach Paul Westphal.

Team president Wally Walker issued a statement that saidPayton’s suspension was “for conduct detrimental to the team.”

Walker said he was hopeful the Payton-Westphal problems could besmoothed over.

“While this was an act that was not taken lightly, we believethat both Gary and the team will move forward positively uponGary’s return,” Walker said.

Heated Words in Huddle

Payton had to be restrained after confronting Westphal during atimeout in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s game in Dallas,The News Tribune of Tacoma reported today.

The newspaper said Payton told Westphal in the huddle that hedidn’t care “about this game anymore. You all can suspend me forthe rest of my career.”

Sonics spokesman Mark Moquin said he could not confirm thatPayton was returning to Seattle from the team’s road trip in Texas.

The Sonics were to play tonight in San Antonio. Theirnext game is Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers inSeattle.

Westphal offered to resign four games into the Sonics’disappointing season. He refused to discuss Payton’s blowup.

“It’s a blip on the radar screen,” Westphal said afterSeattle’s 116-110 victory.

The confrontation with Westphal came with 8:31 left afterWestphal said something that set Payton off. Teammate PervisEllison and others held Payton back.

After the game, Payton said Westphal showed him a lack ofrespect by what was said. If Westphal does it again, Payton said,he no longer would play for him.

Payton would not disclose what Westphal said to him.

“He is going to respect me or I am not going to play for him,”Payton told The News Tribune. “That’s just (it) period. If he isgoing to say something bad to me and I think it is bad, he is goingto have to respect me before that. Or he won’t have me playing forhim.