New York ? Latrell Sprewell was suspended for one game by the NBA on Tuesday for yelling a sexual vulgarity at a female fan during a game, the latest episode of a player clashing with spectators.

The penalty was harsher than those issued in the past by the league office for on-court outbursts. The NBA has been particularly concerned about conflicts between players and fans following a nasty brawl in Detroit 21/2 weeks ago that spilled into the stands.

Sprewell responded to a female heckler with a sexually vulgar term that was clearly picked up by a courtside microphone and broadcast by television stations KTLA in Los Angeles and KSTC in Minnesota.

Commissioner David Stern has said the NBA needed to re-examine what would be tolerated in terms of civil behavior between fans and spectators, and Tuesday’s penalty issued by league vice president Stu Jackson made it clear that vulgar exchanges wouldn’t be.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said league policy prohibited directing obscenities at fans.

“Our policy is that you can’t do it,” he said. “When you do it, you’re going to get suspended.”

This is the latest in a series of problems for the 34-year-old Sprewell. He was suspended for one year — later reduced to 68 games — for choking Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo at practice in 1997.

In December 2003, Sprewell was fined $25,000 by the NBA for cursing at New York Knicks chairman James Dolan and screaming at the team’s bench. In 1999, Sprewell was fined $10,000 for making profane remarks to fans during a game.