Michael Olowokandi
The first overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft, known as 'the Kandi Man.'
via Wikipedia: Michael Olowokandi · see source
Michael Olowokandi (born 3 April 1975) is a Nigerian former professional basketball player. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in London, he played collegiately for the Pacific Tigers in Stockton, California. Nicknamed "the Kandi Man," Olowokandi was selected as the first overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played professionally until 2007, when he was forced to retire due to severe hernia and knee injuries.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 3 April 1975
- Birthplace
- Lagos, Nigeria
- College
- Pacific (1995–1998)
- Draft round
- 1
- Drafted by
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Career number
- 34, 41
- Career position
- Center
Lore & Background
Olowokandi was born in Lagos, Nigeria, as the oldest of five children. His father, Ezekiel, was a Nigerian diplomat. When Olowokandi was aged 3, his family moved to London where he was raised. He attended Newlands Manor School in Seaford, East Sussex, where he set British age group records in long jump and triple jump and also played center midfield in football. He first touched a basketball at age 17 and began playing the sport when he was 18. He then entered Brunel University as a mechanical engineering major, where he was an athlete in track and field, cricket, and rugby union. He had a tryout with the Thames Valley Tigers of the Budweiser Basketball League but did not receive a contract. On 3 April 1995, his 20th birthday, he opened the Peterson's Guide to American Colleges and Universities to a random page and landed on the University of the Pacific (UOP). He called the UOP basketball office and assistant coach Tony Marcopulos answered. After being informed there were no available basketball scholarships, Olowokandi offered to pay for his schooling for two years. He arrived in the United States in August 1995, having not played a game of organized basketball. He became a star during his junior season, averaging a team high 12.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. As a senior he averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game and was the 1997–98 Big West Conference Player of the Year. He graduated with a degree in Economics and had his No. 55 jersey retired by the university in 1998.
Reader's Guide
Olowokandi was drafted with the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1998 NBA draft. He signed with Italian team Kinder Bologna on 5 January 1999. In 3 regular season Italian League games played with Bologna, he averaged 4.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 17.3 minutes per game. He also played for 3 games in the FIBA EuroLeague, where he averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 21.3 minutes per game. Bologna granted Olowokandi an early release to sign with the Clippers. He signed with the Clippers on 29 January 1999. During his rookie season, he averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in 45 games. He underwent surgery on his left knee on 11 May 1999. In the 2001–02 season, he averaged 11.1 points and 8.8 rebounds. On 5 April 2002, he was fined $50,000 by the Clippers for 'behavior detrimental to the team.' He re-signed with the Clippers to their qualifying offer on 24 September 2002. He underwent knee surgery on 3 February 2003 and was ruled out for the rest of the season in April. He averaged 9.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in his 323 games played with the Clippers over five seasons. He signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a three-year, $16.2 million contract. He underwent surgery on 12 December 2003 and was ruled out indefinitely.
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