Utah Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan took the high road when asked how he felt about comments made by his former player, Bryon Russell, in yesterday's Washington Post. Russell, who joined the Wizards this season, took shots at Sloan and the Jazz organization, for whom he played for nine seasons.

"I don't have a problem with what Bryon says," Sloan said before last night's game at MCI Center. "I'm just happy that Bryon's happy now. That's the most important thing. Whether he was happy or not last year doesn't matter now because the most important thing for him in his career is to be happy."

Russell, who spent some time with Utah players before the game, said yesterday, "I was happy with that article."