SEATTLE -- When the Seattle SuperSonics play the Minnesota
Timberwolves tonight, they'll be without Gary Payton for only
the third game in his career.
Payton's streak of 356 consecutive starts, the longest active
one among NBA players, will come to an end because the All-Star
point guard finally crossed the line with the Sonics.
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Coach Nate McMillan suspended Payton on Thursday for one game
for "conduct detrimental to the team" following Seattle's 89-80
home loss to Phoenix on Wednesday night.
During a fourth-quarter timeout, Payton and teammate Ruben
Patterson had an angry confrontation, and the feelings followed into the locker room, where reportedly Payton and McMillan got into an argument.
"It wasn't anything that was on the floor," McMillan said.
"It happened after the game in the locker room.
"This was something that I felt that we had crossed the line.
There are certain things we want to do and when we cross that line,
we will take the appropriate action."
Reached at his suburban Bellevue home Thursday, Payton told The
Seattle Times he was sorry for his actions.
"This is his (McMillan's) team," Payton said. "He's trying to
set an example for all the other younger guys: 'Even if Gary does
it, he will get punished, too.' It's no big deal. I'm sorry that
I'm not going to be able to play like I always do.
"I'm sorry for the fans. I broke a rule and he (McMillan) did
what he had to do. I'll be at home chillin'. I hope my teammates go
out there and play hard and get a victory."
McMillan said Payton is "a part of this family. To have to
discipline a player who's so important to a team and means so much
it's going to always be tough for management, for your teammates,
for everybody who is involved."
Payton, 32, hasn't missed a game since March 15, 1996, when he
was suspended by the league for head-butting Joe Wolf.
The only other regular-season game he missed in his 827-game
career was Jan. 14, 1992, due to a chest contusion.
The decision to suspend Payton was made by McMillan after
consulting with Wally Walker, the Sonics' president and general
manager.
"It was a situation where some things happened and I made a
decision. Wally agreed," said McMillan, Payton's friend and former
teammate who took over as Seattle's coach Nov. 27.
Walker said he attempted to reason with Payton after Wednesday
night's game.
"My conversation with Gary, and I talked to him for over an
hour was, 'You're too smart not to conclude that some
of the things you're doing just don't work, particularly as it
relates to other people,' " Walker said.
"We know he's competitive, we know he loves to win. We just
can't accept some of the things he does and says."
Walker said he thought the competitive Payton was upset after a
6-for-24 shooting performance against Phoenix. At 21-20, the Sonics
are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second time in three
seasons.
"He's frustrated," Walker said. "He wants to win. Sometimes
when he gets frustrated, it manifests itself in ways it shouldn't
and we've got to change that."
Payton was ordered suspended for one game this season after a
confrontation with then-coach Paul Westphal in the huddle Nov. 21
at Dallas. After the game, he criticized Westphal to reporters.
Walker announced the next day that Payton was suspended for the
Sonics' game that night at San Antonio. But Payton met with
Westphal, apologized and got the suspension lifted.
Six days later, the Sonics fired Westphal and replaced him with the popular McMillan, who
became an assistant coach after he retired as a player.
Payton is an 11-year veteran and six-time All-Star who is the
team's career scoring leader. He often has clashed with teammates
and coaches.
Payton was expected to return to practice Saturday and play
against Sacramento at home Sunday night.
"When Gary comes back Saturday, I would expect him to play well
and support the team and do all the things that we have been and
will continue to do to get this team competitive," McMillan said.
"I fully expect that to happen."
The Sonics were sold Jan. 11 for $200 million to a group of
investors headed by Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz. Walker will
become a minority owner of the franchise when the deal is approved
by the NBA Board of Governors.
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AUDIO VIDEO
 Coach Nate McMillan says Gary Payton crossed the line and action had to be taken.
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Sonics president and GM Wally Walker doesn't accept the actions of Gary Payton.
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