Center Mychal Thompson of the Lakers entered...

Center Mychal Thompson of the Lakers entered a plea of not guilty at Lake Oswego, Ore., to a charge that he stole golf balls from a golf course driving range.

Thompson was cited in June on a third-degree theft charge for allegedly taking less than $50 worth of golf balls from the driving range.

Thompson, who formerly played for the Portland Trail Blazers and who lives in Tualatin, Ore., said last month that he got a bucket of balls and hit a few before he had to leave the course. He said he took the rest of the balls with him but brought them back later and hit them.