http://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/story/2009/01/13/nba-knicks-curry.htmlKnicks' Curry sued by former driver
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 | 2:31 AM ET
CBC Sports
New York Knicks reserve centre Eddy Curry is being sued by his former driver for alleged money owed, and reportedly for sexually harassment and making racial slurs.
Dave Kuchinsky filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in New York that claims Curry owes him $93,000 US in back pay and expenses.
"I'm shocked, really," Curry said in denying the allegations put forth in the lawsuit.
"He approached my friends a while back, trying to get money. I just never, ever, thought it would go past what it did, which was just idle threats ? money-or-else kind of stuff."
The New York Post reported on its website that Kuchinsky, who is Jewish, also alleges that Curry exposed himself and harassed him, and berated him by calling him such derogatory terms as a "cracker," "white slave," "white devil" and "grandmaster of the KKK."
"Everyone who knows me knows I'm not a racist," Curry told reporters following New York's 101-99 victory over the host New Orleans Hornets on Monday. "I have never made a comment like that ? playing or nothing.
"Aside from the fact I wouldn't do it because I'm not racist, I wouldn't do it because I wouldn't want someone to play with me like that. That is incredible, man."
Portraying the lawsuit as a ploy to extract money from him, Curry confirmed that he employed Kuchinsky for three years before they severed ties last October.
"It is like a prime example of you got to watch who is around you," Curry said. "This is a guy who I really thought he was my friend up until the last four, five months.
"I can't even believe this happened ? I can't believe it went this far. I can't believe someone would represent something like that."
Curry, 26, has played a mere two minutes 38 seconds this season because of soreness in his right knee, posting two points and two rebounds in a 99-94 loss to the Dallas Mavericks last Thursday.
He sat out Monday's win at New Orleans.
Curry has averaged 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 25.8 minutes in 502 games, including 410 starts, over eight NBA seasons since he was drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2001.