Baylor to Olowokandi: Put Up and Shut Up

The Clippers were dismayed Thursday to read of center Michael Olowokandi’s reaction to the booing Wednesday by some of the 14,842 fans at Staples Center whenever he touched the ball during a 103-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

“I don’t want to get into this,” said Elgin Baylor, Clipper general manager, who then spoke at length when asked for a response to Olowokandi’s postgame statement that he wouldn’t be playing for the team next season, “So if they want to boo, they can go right ahead and boo.”

Said Baylor of Olowokandi, an unrestricted free agent at season’s end who was the target of the fans’ frustrations over the Clippers’ six-game losing streak:

“He should play basketball and give his best effort every night and every afternoon. That’s what he gets paid to do, play basketball. He should be thankful the fans are still coming out. [Despite] the way we’ve been playing, they’ve stuck by us. The way we’ve been playing I wanted to stand up and boo us.

“He needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. It certainly doesn’t help the situation. If he plays well, the fans will respond to him. They have been very positive in the past.”

Coach Alvin Gentry asked Olowokandi not to say anything to reporters about the fans’ jeering of him, according to one locker-room witness. Gentry also took a moment after the game to praise Olowokandi, who had six points and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes.

“I would have preferred that he leave it alone,” Gentry said. “He’s a grown man, but I don’t know what good could come out of it. You put a huge burden on yourself when you start talking to the fans. If I responded to all the fans said about me, I’d be a basket case.”

Late last season, Olowokandi spoke out about how the uncertainty of several players eligible to become free agents was tied to the team’s selfish play at times and was fined $50,000. Baylor later rescinded the fine after Olowokandi apologized.

Olowokandi, in his fifth season with the Clippers, is averaging career bests of 12.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in 38.8 minutes. If his comments of Wednesday were any indication, Olowokandi intends to sign elsewhere next summer.

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TONIGHT

at Seattle, 7:30, ESPN

Site -- KeyArena.

Radio -- XTRA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 13-22, SuperSonics 16-18.

Record vs. SuperSonics -- 0-1.

Update -- The Clippers have lost eight of 10 but ended a six-game losing streak Wednesday against Memphis. The SuperSonics have lost seven of 10 and three in a row, suffering a home defeat Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.