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Michael Olowokandi

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* The 23-year-old Clipper rookie was the No. 1 pick in last year’s NBA draft out of the University of Pacific. The son of a Nigerian diplomat, he was born in Nigeria and reared in England.

Bon Appetit: The best way to start a weekend is with a good meal, so when the sun goes down on Friday I like to go with a group of friends to Valentino in Santa Monica. I usually start with a watercress salad and then move on to something bigger such as the salmon penne. And we always finish with one of their incredible desserts: apple pie or lemon meringue pie for me.

Pumping Iron: The neighborhood where I live in Manhattan Beach is quiet enough to let me sleep all day. When I do get up, I like to start the day by going to the gym. I’m pretty focused when I work out and like to stay in the gym for several hours.

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Time at Home: By the time I’m finished with my workout, I’ve worked up a pretty good appetite, so I head home to make myself lunch. I try to eat healthy, so I cook quite a bit. I actually like grocery shopping, aside from the frustration of getting home to realize there’s something I forgot to get.

Out and About: Since I’m new to Los Angeles, I like to venture out and find new places, and Saturday night is a good time to do that. My roommate and I will get in the car and just drive, without any idea of where we’re going. We’ve gone in search of the Hollywood sign, found a great place to watch the planes land at LAX and even bought a Hollywood stars map one time and went looking at stars’ houses!

Beach Bum: Living by the beach, I try to take advantage of having such beautiful surroundings. On Sundays, I like to go for a bike ride or walk along the Strand. It seems like the sun is always shining and, even in the winter, the Strand is packed with runners, cyclists . . . you name it. I usually stop at the Hermosa Beach Pier and grab a bite to eat at Hennessey’s, Rajun Cajun or somewhere else along Pier Avenue. I like the South Bay because people are so relaxed and down to earth. When I’m out, people will ask me if I play basketball, or ask for an autograph, but so far everyone has been very respectful, which I appreciate.

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