Jazz player's injury under scrutiny

The Jazz would not comment Tuesday on information suggesting rookie big man Robert Whaley was involved in an incident at a Park City bar that may have led to his being cut in the hand.

Whaley needed six stitches to close a laceration in his right hand over the weekend, and on Monday he blamed the injury on a kitchen-knife mishap involving his 2-year-old son.

On Tuesday, however, Jazz officials were reexamining the story Whaley told both them and media members.

"I have no comments until I know all the facts," said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations.

Later Tuesday night, KSL-TV Ch. 5 reported that Whaley was thought to be involved in a skirmish at a popular private club for members in Park City.

It's believed Whaley and at least one teammate were at the night club when an incident developed involving them, other patrons and a bouncer employed by the bar.

The Jazz players are thought to have been questioned by Park City police, but neither was arrested or charged in the matter.

On Tuesday night, a Park City police dispatcher said the department would not discuss the case until sometime today.

Whaley, a second-round draft choice from tiny Walsh (Ohio) University, did not play in Monday's win over Detroit because of the cut on his hand.

He was not expected to play in tonight's Delta Center game against the Portland Trail Blazers, either.

Originally, Whaley said the laceration occurred after his 2-year-old grabbed a knife from an island in his kitchen.

"I kind of scared him," Whaley said. "He turned around and just threw it, not knowing any better. And I kind of tried to block it, and it just caught me right on the web."

Whaley, averaging 0.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in nine games this season, is expected to have the stitches in the area of his hand between the thumb and the index finger for another 7-to-9 more days.

He had hoped to return to the Jazz lineup later this week.

But now Whaley's future with the organization — he already was on a short leash with team officials — could be in peril.