http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1001/1439943.html Feud between star and owner still brewing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press SEATTLE -- Gary Payton was a no-show as the Seattle SuperSonics opened training camp Tuesday. Payton, who skipped media day Monday after calling coach Nate McMillan to say he planned to report for practice, didn't attend a workout Tuesday morning. The Sonics had another one scheduled for Tuesday night. ''It's an unexcused absence,'' McMillan said Tuesday. ''To miss practice, really, there's no excuse for that. I was expecting Gary to be here today.'' Payton's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said his client met with McMillan on Monday night to discuss a summer-long disagreement between Payton and Sonics owner Howard Schultz. ''They talked about his importance to the team and how Gary shouldn't allow whatever discontent he's feeling with Howard to be reflected on the team,'' Goodwin said. ''Howard owns the team and he's free to say and do what he wants. Unfortunately, Gary has to deal with that.'' Payton was fined an undisclosed amount by the team for his first two absences. McMillan said Payton will be fined for each additional practice he misses, though he declined to say how much. Goodwin said Payton wasn't concerned about missing workouts. ''He's a 12-year veteran,'' Goodwin said. ''How much did he miss in a day?'' Schultz, chairman of Starbucks Coffee Co., wasn't happy about Payton's media day absence and did numerous interviews Monday to say so. Schultz pointed out that with one year at close to $13 million remaining on a seven-year contract, Payton is the NBA's highest paid guard. The 34-year-old Payton asked for an extension after last season, his 12th in the NBA. Payton, who has spent his entire career in Seattle, averaged 22.1 points and a career-high 9.0 assists last season. Schultz, who wants Payton to play out his final year before renegotiating, watched practice Tuesday from a platform above the court and didn't speak with reporters. Goodwin said the extension is no longer an issue for Payton. ''Not at all. Howard keeps perpetuating that talk,'' Goodwin said. ''Gary is not upset. He's trying to get his head ready to come in and play ball, simple as that. Things didn't go the way he expected.'' Without Payton on the court, Brent Barry and former Arizona All-America Miles Simon directed the first-team offense Tuesday. McMillan said he thinks Payton will be ready to play when he reports, and he predicted the flap would go away shortly after that. Before the first workout, he called his young team together. ''Nate said, 'Obviously, Gary's not here, but practice will go on,''' third-year swingman Desmond Mason said. ''That's Nate's approach, that's my approach and I think it should be everyone's approach.''
I'm not shocked either. Sonics fans better be ready to enjoy Payton for the last year. He'll probably end up in San Antonio or somewhere out West next year.
I don't wish anything on Sonics fans, but the more Payton continues to be grumpy about the non-extension, the better off the Rockets are in the playoff hunt. Trade Payton East for scrubs.
well he did say he wouldn't show up. I guess they thought he wasn't serious to be so surprised? Still, if fines are involved I doubt he'll be gone too long. $$$
whoops, didn't read the link. Just thought you meant he showed up at night, but didn't know they had two practices a day. Two practices? Rockets need to run 3 then.
