Olowokandi Gets Some Good News

Michael Olowokandi’s agent said Monday that felony charges of cohabitant abuse, false imprisonment and robbery against the Clipper center had been withdrawn by a former girlfriend.

A spokesman for the Manhattan Beach Police Department, however, said that an investigation was continuing and that Olowokandi remains free on bail of $50,000.

Police would not divulge the name of the woman who filed the charges and have yet to turn over their findings to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, which would determine any charges Olowokandi might face.

Olowokandi was arrested at his Manhattan Beach home about 3 a.m. Saturday, after returning from Denver, where the Clippers had played the Nuggets. He was absent from practice Saturday, but was in the starting lineup when the Clippers defeated the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at Staples Center, 103-72.

Olowokandi was unavailable for comment Monday, but his agent, Bill Duffy, said, “The fact is, the accusing party has since recanted these charges at the police department where they were filed. It was the intention of this individual to bring harm to Mr. Olowokandi and [she] willfully created these accusations. This is an incident involving an emotional reaction to a strained relationship.”

The police would not release details of the incident.

According to Clipper sources, the woman was waiting for Olowokandi outside his home when he arrived. He was said to have tried to restrain her by holding her arms while she argued with a third, unidentified person.

“As cooler heads have prevailed, the accuser has expressed sincere regret in making these false accusations,” Duffy said. “Mr. Olowokandi regrets that this has become a public issue and is prepared to defend himself and his home.”

The Clippers have no plans to discipline Olowokandi. He is expected to be in the starting lineup when the team plays host to the Miami Heat tonight.

However, this is the second off-court incident in less than a month for the Clippers, a team thought to have a bright future because of emerging young players such as Olowokandi.

Lamar Odom, perhaps the team’s most versatile player, was suspended for eight games Nov. 5 for violating the terms of the NBA’s antidrug policy. It was Odom’s second drug suspension in eight months.

Odom, who admitted last month to using marijuana, must comply with the league’s aftercare program to remain eligible to play. He is averaging 10.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists in nine games.

Olowokandi, 26, has been playing organized basketball only since transferring from a college in England to the University of the Pacific before the 1995-96 season. He averaged 22.2 points and 11.2 rebounds as a senior at Pacific and was selected first overall by the Clippers in the 1998 draft.

Widely criticized for failing to become the impact player many expect a No. 1 overall pick to be, Olowokandi is averaging 6.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in 17 games this season.

Sunday, however, Olowokandi had perhaps his best game of the season, scoring 12 points and taking 11 rebounds in 31 minutes.

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry recently praised Olowokandi for his fine defensive play and rebounding, saying the team was pleased by his contributions.