Originally published September 18, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified September 18, 2007 at 2:06 AM

NBA Wire Notes | Ex-Sonic Houston gets 4-year sentence

Former Sonics forward Byron Houston was sentenced to four years in prison Monday for violating probation on an indecent-exposure conviction...

By The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Former Sonics forward Byron Houston was sentenced to four years in prison Monday for violating probation on an indecent-exposure conviction.

Houston, 37, was on probation for indecent exposure when he was arrested in Oklahoma City on suspicion of the same offense.

Houston, a college standout at Oklahoma State, played in 39 games for the Sonics during the 1994-95 regular season, averaging 3.4 points. He also played for Golden State and Sacramento in his four seasons in the league.

District Judge Ray Elliott said Houston was given numerous chances at rehabilitation.

During Monday's hearing, Elliott heard from defense witnesses who said Houston suffers from bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Houston faces a Jan. 14 trial on an additional felony charge of indecent exposure.

Notes

• Referee Joey Crawford was reinstated by commissioner David Stern, five months after he was suspended indefinitely for improper on-court conduct.

San Antonio superstar Tim Duncan contended Crawford challenged him to a fight during a game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 15. Crawford ejected Duncan while the player was laughing on the bench. Stern cited a pattern of similar acts in suspending Crawford, who enters his 32nd season as a league official.

• Isiah Thomas, coach and president of the New York Knicks, denied calling a former female team executive vulgar names, according to a videotaped deposition played for a jury in his sexual-harassment trial.

"I never cursed at Miss Sanders," Thomas said of Anucha Browne Sanders, a former senior vice present of marketing and business operations who is seeking $10 million in damages on her claim she was fired because she accused Thomas of harassment.

• Guard Charlie Bell signed an $18.5 million, five-year offer sheet with the Miami Heat. Milwaukee has seven days to match the offer.

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