NEW YORK -- Latrell Sprewell filed a formal appeal Thursday with the New York Knicks over his $250,000 fine, the latest step in a process that could take more than two months to resolve.

	Sprewell

In a letter from union director Billy Hunter to Knicks president Scott Layden, Sprewell and the union said ''We hereby grieve the discipline in connection with article 31, section 9 of the collective bargaining agreement.''

Sprewell was fined for failing to report an injury to the Knicks in a timely manner. He injured his right hand when he slipped and fell aboard his yacht in early September, but the Knicks didn't find out about it until the day before training camp opened Oct. 1.

Sprewell contends the fine was unwarranted because he did not realize the seriousness of his injury. He also will argue that the fine was excessive.

''In most instances a case of this magnitude, it could take six to 10 weeks. At the end of the hearing or after final briefs are submitted, the arbitrator has 30 days to render a ruling,'' union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

Arbitrator Roger Kaplan will hear Sprewell's appeal.

Under collective bargaining rules, the $250,000 must be placed into an interest-bearing escrow account until the case is settled.

Sprewell's fine is believed to be the largest ever imposed by a team against one of its players.

Sprewell remains banished from the team, although he is in contact with the Knicks' medical staff regarding his recovery from surgery to repair a broken bone below his right pinkie.

The locker Sprewell has occupied for the past four seasons did not have his nameplate above it prior to New York's game against San Antonio on Thursday night. Instead, the space was occupied by journeyman center Todd Lindeman.

Shandon Anderson started in Sprewell's small forward spot, hoping to improve on his poor performance in the Knicks' defeat against Boston on Tuesday in the exhibition opener. Anderson had a shot blocked and committed two turnovers the first three times he touched the ball, finishing with four points, one assist and four turnovers.

''He had a great camp, so I'm looking at it as just a bad game,'' coach Don Chaney said. ''When things happen negatively for him it affects other parts of his game.''