Controversy finds Fortson again

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, March 26, 2005

SEATTLE – On a day that should be devoted solely to celebration – by defeating the Washington Wizards tonight, the Seattle SuperSonics will clinch their first playoff spot in three years – the team instead finds itself facing a difficult and perhaps devastating problem involving forward Danny Fortson.

Fortson, a talented player with a remarkable knack for getting into hot water, is at odds with coach Nate McMillan for the second time in less than three weeks. The current dispute, which began when Fortson was late for a Friday shootaround and was subsequently benched for Friday’s game against New York, could result in additional disciplinary action, although team officials were decidedly tight-lipped on Saturday afternoon.

For Fortson, who was acquired in an offseason trade and became an immediate fan favorite as he helped the Sonics to one of their best starts in franchise history, the conflict is puzzling.

“It seems like whenever negativity comes around, somehow my name gets involved in it,” he said after the team’s brief Saturday practice. “I don’t understand.”

McMillan was unwilling to address Fortson’s recent behavior – “I’m not even going to go there, guys,” he told reporters after the workout – but the following scenario has emerged. Fortson showed up late on Friday, which is a no-no for McMillan, as it is for all NBA coaches. The result was that Fortson was held out of the first half of Friday’s game, though he was in uniform and ready to play.

At halftime, Fortson was allegedly angry enough at having to sit that he declined to accompany his teammates back to the court. Instead he requested a meeting with general manager Rick Sund, which occurred as the third quarter was getting under way. Eventually Fortson made his way back to the bench, but he stayed there the rest of the game.

Afterward, McMillan would not explain why Fortson had not played. Fortson told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that his sin was to break “one of Nate’s million rules that I can’t seem to follow.”

On Saturday, when asked about his penchant for being tardy, Fortson merely shrugged. “We’re all late sometimes,” he said. “I have to say that I’m not the only one. But I’m the only one that’s publicized. So, whatever.”

Given the chance to elaborate, he went on, “Let’s put it this way. If you want to put the blame on me, I welcome it. I can handle it. I’m not worried. I’ll get back to playing ball and that’s basically why I’m here. To play ball and try to feel part of the team.

“You know, this is my eighth year in this league. When you’re a veteran player, some things you shouldn’t have to go through. I’m not a rookie. I’m too old to be talking about (this type of) thing. So, whatever.”

Reached by telephone on Saturday, Sund said he expected to meet with Fortson later in the evening to discuss the incident. Sund declined to give any other details, but it is possible the team will impose additional punishments. Then again, the issue might also be resolved.

Asked whether Fortson will play against the Wizards tonight, McMillan said only, “We’ll see.”

Pressed, he added, “I’m coaching a team here. There’s certain ways we’re going to play, certain things we’re going to do.”

Earlier this month, Fortson and McMillan had another blowup, this at practice after Fortson got into a loud and prolonged argument with a workout referee. When McMillan interceded, Fortson reportedly cursed his coach and was sent home. The next night he stayed in street clothes during a game against Chicago at KeyArena.

Similar episodes have tainted Fortson’s eight-year NBA career. He has been traded five times (a sixth trade was negated after another player in the deal failed a physical), largely because he keeps getting into trouble. He has feuded with previous coaches, most notably Eric Musselman in Golden State and Don Nelson in Dallas, and he has been suspended multiple times by both the league and his teams.

The Sonics knew all this when they acquired Fortson from Dallas over the summer for little-used center Calvin Booth. Seattle officials figured Fortson might thrive in the right environment, and for the season’s first few months that was true. The turning point seemed to occur in a Feb. 10 game against Sacramento, when Fortson was ejected and tossed a courtside chair as he headed to the locker room, for which he was suspended two games by the league.

He missed the next four games to tend to his ailing grandmother in Pennsylvania, and he missed another four games in the past two weeks because of a sprained ankle.

The Sonics have an obvious reason for trying to get things squared away with Fortson – he is under contract for the next two seasons, during which the team will pay him close to $13 million, guaranteed.

On Saturday, asked why the last several weeks have been so different from the first few months of the season, Fortson said, “I really don’t know. Ain’t nothing changed with me. I’m still the same person.

“Negativity only lingers whenever people keep it around,” he added. “Me personally, I’m not a negative person. Whenever I come back out here, it’s not going to be negative. It’s going to be positive.”