Italian Club Releases Olowokandi
Michael Olowokandi's great European adventure ended after only six games, three weeks ahead of schedule.
The No. 1 pick in the NBA draft was released Monday from his contract with Kinder Bologna of the Italian League, freeing him to join the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 7-foot-1 center arrived in Italy on Jan. 5, joining Kinder about 24 hours before the NBA and its players agreed to a deal that ended the lockout.
The contract was to pay Olowokandi $600,000 and keep him with Kinder until Feb. 15, but a club source, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said the team decided to let him go now to save money and because he failed to make the expected impact.
"I felt it was time to leave and head to the team that drafted me," the 23-year-old center said. "I learned my basketball in the United States, and I'm ready for my transition from college ball to the NBA, which is what I always wanted to do."
He will leave Bologna by the end of the week and head to California. The Clippers opened training camp Thursday.
"Hopefully, I can be with the Clippers ASAP. I don't intend to waste any time," Olowokandi said.
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He averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in six games with Kinder as his playing time steadily dwindled. He was slowed at times by tendinitis in his right knee, and lamented that the team rarely used him as a focal point on offense
Three other players also jumped to Europe right before the lockout was resolved: Vlade Divac, Arvydas Sabonis and Vinny Del Negro. Last week, Divac signed with the Sacramento Kings and Sabonis rejoined the Portland Trail Blazers. Del Negro still is with TeamSystem Bologna of the Italian League, but an escape clause allows him to leave after Jan. 31.
Olowokandi, who was born in Nigeria and raised in England, played just five minutes Sunday in Kinder's 84-67 victory over first-place Varese.
"After yesterday's game, I just felt it was time to leave," hsaid. "They had pushed me to stay. But they have their team and it's time for me to go back to my team."
Olowokandi played at Pacific, where his averages went from 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.32 blocks in his first season to 22.2, 11.2 and 2.88 in his third and last year, prompting the Clippers to take him with the first overall pick in June's draft.
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