Michael Olowokandi
From Hoopedia
| Michael Olowokandi |
|---|
 |
| Position Center |
| Height 7 ft 0 |
| Weight 270 lbs |
| League NBA |
| Team Free Agent |
| Born April 3, 1975 Laos, Nigeria |
Nationality  Nigeria
|
| College Pacific |
| Drafted 1st overall in 1998 by the Los Angeles Clippers |
| Pro Career 1998 - |
| Former NBA Teams Los Angeles Clippers (1998-2003) Minnesota Timberwolves (2003-2006) Boston Celtics (2006-2007) |
Michael Olowokandi (born April 3, 1975), is an Nigerian professional basketball player in the NBA at Point Guard and currentley Free Agent. Born in Nigeria and raised in England, Olowokandi enrolled in the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California, USA, and joined their men's basketball team, despite the fact that he had only started to play basketball at age 17. His junior year, Olowokandi led his team to the NCAA Tournament. After his senior year he was drafted with the first overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played there for five seasons before signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves as an unrestricted free agent before the 2003-04 NBA season.
In 366 career regular season NBA games (335 games started), Olowokandi has averaged 9.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.63 blocked shots per game. In 15 playoff games (2 starts), he has averaged 2.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.73 blocks per game. In his five years with the Los Angeles Clippers, he struggled, never emerging as the dominant center that many expected him to be. After signing a free agent contract with the Timberwolves in 2003, he was supposed to blossom as a legitimate star center, but was something of a disappointment, playing only 43 games and being more of a liability than an asset to the Kevin Garnett-led Minnesota team.
On January 26, 2006, he was traded to the Boston Celtics in a multi-player trade. Upon returning to the Target Center a few days later for a game against the Wolves, he was greeted with a chorus of boos.
Olowokandi was expected to retire before the 2006-07 NBA season, due to injuries related to a groin problem. However, he went through therapy and said "I feel like I'm 21 again" in September 2006. He worked out with the Phoenix Suns, but the Suns did not sign him. Afterwards, Olowokandi joined the Boston Celtics in their training camp and was signed after some impressive showings in preseason games.
