CHARLESTON, S.C. ? New York Knicks president Scott Layden refused Tuesday to discuss details of Latrell Sprewell’s hand injury, just one of the problems the team faced as it opened training camp.

While most of the team went through the first of two-a-day practice sessions, Sprewell was in New York undergoing surgery to repair a displaced fracture below his right pinkie. He will wear a cast for a month and be sidelined at least six weeks.

“He told us he banged his hand two weeks ago. The focus now is to get him healthy and back with the team,” Layden said.

Sprewell’s hand injury caught the team by surprise. He showed up at the Knicks’ practice facility Monday with a swollen right hand and complained that it hurt. X-rays revealed a broken bone.

It was unclear whether Sprewell gave the Knicks a detailed explanation as to the cause of the injury. The team refused to make Sprewell available to the media on Monday, the team’s media day, and neither Layden nor coach Don Chaney offered any details.

Layden, pressed on the issue of exactly how Sprewell injured himself, would not or could not provide an answer.

“What we know is he banged the hand two weeks ago. That’s the comment,” Layden said.

Sprewell’s agent, Robert Gist, did not return calls seeking comment. A day earlier, Gist was unaware that Sprewell had injured his hand.

Sprewell was one of three projected starters who were absent as the Knicks began camp. Allan Houston missed practice for personal reasons, while center Kurt Thomas was in Connecticut being arraigned on charges of third-degree assault and risking injury to a minor stemming from an altercation with his wife Monday at his Connecticut home.

A judge ordered Thomas to stay away from the couple’s home and to avoid all contact with his wife. He will be allowed one trip home with a police escort to collect his belongings.

SuperSonics

Gary Payton finally appeared at camp for the Sonics. He didn’t attend a morning workout but made it to the evening practice, although 30 minutes late.

The star guard had skipped Monday’s media day, and coach Nate McMillan said Payton would be fined for missing the Tuesday morning practice.

Payton’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, said Payton met with McMillan on Monday to discuss a summer-long disagreement between the player and Sonics owner Howard Schultz.

Clippers

The Clippers opened camp without injured starters Lamar Odom and Elton Brand.

Odom (right ankle) is expected at practice Wednesday after seeing team doctors Monday night. Brand (right knee) is to join his teammates by the end of the week.

The Clippers also said restricted free agent Wang Zhizhi signed an offer sheet. The 7-foot-1 center averaged 5.6 points and two rebounds in 10.9 minutes for Dallas.

Wizards

Michael Jordan practiced and took part in a scrimmage Tuesday night. Earlier, he did some conditioning and stood alongside Ewing, now a Washington assistant coach.

Jordan and coach Doug Collins have discussed the possibility of Jordan playing as sixth man.

“We want Michael to be strong from start to finish,” Collins said. “We want the guys to make his life easier, to be able to create some offense for him.”

Celtics

Vin Baker sprained his left pinkie on the first day of camp, but he was not expected to miss any practice. X-rays were negative, the team said. Baker was acquired this summer from Seattle, where he averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds last season.

Pacers

Reggie Miller went all-out on his sore ankle, and Al Harrington didn’t hold back in his first practice on a rebuilt knee. Miller sprained his right ankle during last month’s World Championships. Harrington tore a ligament in his right knee in January.