I just saw on Sportscenter that Olowakandi was arrested for refusing to leave a night club in Indianapolis after being charged with possesion of a weapon. What are your comments on this situation and how it will affest the Timberwolves?
This is the kind of things that distroy the NBA's reputation and makes players in the league seem like spoiled rich people. There players are constantly arrested or accussed of crimes, and the sad part is they dont even care because they have more then enough money to get themselves out. He will probably face some kind of court appearence, but it will not be anything that will really affect the team it will be kind of like what happened to Arenas when he was accussed of carring a weapon, and what happened to Cassel when him. Payton, and Caffey where accussed of attacking people. It should all blow over rather quickly.
It will blow over fast but I just think it's funny that these plyers have all this ability but don't train hard enough to leave their own mark in history. Instead of running around to night clubs they should be training to win a championship. We hear talk of how every team wants to win a championship but they never put int the work to win one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AA13:</div><div class="quote_post">It will blow over fast but I just think it's funny that these plyers have all this ability but don't train hard enough to leave their own mark in history. Instead of running around to night clubs they should be training to win a championship. We hear talk of how every team wants to win a championship but they never put int the work to win one.</div> Its not always the entire team, but certain players that play key rolls that do not put in enough work to help make the team better. There are many players who put in the work and try to elevate there team, but in the end bball is a team sport and if you do not have everyone on the team putting in hard work its hard to win.
More news on this topic: Sportscenter reports Olowakandi spent and ate Thanksgiving dinner in a jail cell in Indiana. I also saw the police had to subdue him before lugging him out of the club. You are right Pureskillz. But the whole team has to be willing to work with the few that try.
I thought Olowokandi was a good guy. I guess you really don't know someone untill something like this happens. I can't imagine players like Allan Houston or Dwayne Wade ever doing something like this.
^Well yeah they weren't number 1 picks and play like they were drafted dead last. I hate Raymond cause I was watching the game from the living room but in my room. Frickin marathon, I had to have somebody tell me that instead of hearing it for myself. Oh well, I'm not surprised. He plays like crap for a no.1 pick especially so I'd figure he'd be in some deep depression sometime in his career. They say it's just a game, but for a person in his situation it's more then that when you're expected to live up to such high expectations.
He is a bust and a loser. If you have all that money and play in the NBA, which many people dream of, why would you act like an idiot. He hasn't lived up to his potential and now things are getting even worse for him.
It can't get any worse if you're a bust and a have a bad reputation. As MF3 said with that money they have you would think that they would act responsibly but, all it does is just kills the leagues rep along with yours. Bad move Olowokandi. :thumbsdow
Don't be too harsh on him. I mean being a No 1 pick is connected always with a lot of pressure and expectations and he just couldn't cope with it and I think now he is maybe just depressed because he doesn't have a big role on the team. I know it's mainly his fault but I still can understand him and what he is probably going through now.
Here is the originial article from espn.com if anyone is intrested in reading it first hand. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Minnesota Timberwolves center Michael Olowokandi was arrested early Thursday after police used a stun gun to subdue him when he refused to leave a club. Olowokandi, 29, was taken into custody about 3 a.m. after he refused to leave Tiki Bob's, said Indianapolis Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Staletovich. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing, both misdemeanors, Staletovich said. The center was suspended by the team for Thursday night's game against the Indiana Pacers for "conduct detrimental to the team," Timberwolves general manager Jim Stack said in a statement. Olowokandi was held overnight in an Indianapolis jail and released Thursday afternoon. Staletovich said the club's manager asked police, who were investigating another call, to help him get the 7-foot Olowokandi to leave. He refused, and police shocked him twice with a stun gun until he complied and then took him into custody. "We are extremely disappointed in Michael Olowokandi's actions last night," Stack said. "Regardless of how the incident escalated, he never should have been in that situation. The Minnesota Timberwolves do not condone this type of behavior or any actions that negatively impact our franchise." Olowokandi is averaging 5.3 points and 5.2 rebounds this season. Timberwolves point guard Sam Cassell said the situation would not distract the team.</div> rest of article
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coranor:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't be too harsh on him. I mean being a No 1 pick is connected always with a lot of pressure and expectations and he just couldn't cope with it and I think now he is maybe just depressed because he doesn't have a big role on the team. I know it's mainly his fault but I still can understand him and what he is probably going through now.</div> I believe you're always as good as you want to be. If Olowokandi worked really hard on his game he will be really good. He has such a good working model in KG why not spend a little extra time in the gym working on your game? And even though he might have been depressed I think there is no excuse for him to have done what he did.
This is just another in a long line of dissapointments for Kandiman in a Twolves uniform. He just doesnt fit in with this team. His style of play doesnt fit in...the Wolves need bigbodies with alot of lateral quickness, who can be involved in pick & roll situations. And step out to make that 15 foot jumper with some consistency. His personalty doesnt fit in with this team, KG-Spree-Cassell etc are all in your face type of guys. And I think that can be kind of intimadating for a sensative dude like Olowokandi. So he was probably in that bar getting drunk out of depression. He isnt happy on the Wolves. And the Wolves arent happy with him. The Wolves are going to have to kind another legit bigbody before the playoffs start because going into the playoffs again this year expecting Kandiman to give you solid production at the 5 is just a reciepe for destruction, once again. There should be some bigbodies available, during the feb. trade deadline. The Wolves really need try & work something out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe you're always as good as you want to be. If Olowokandi worked really hard on his game he will be really good. He has such a good working model in KG why not spend a little extra time in the gym working on your game? And even though he might have been depressed I think there is no excuse for him to have done what he did.</div> You might be right, but it always depends on the person's personality and who is your mentor. I might be wrong but I just think no one looked really after him once he came to the NBA. And believe me, once you're depressed you do a lot of stupid things which just make it even worse on without really recognising it you need some help, and a counsellor is what he really needs at the moment. Btw. KG had a great mentor, but I just don't see KG as a great mentor for other players, and for Kandi, it was already too late when he joined the Wolves.
yeah i dont see KG as a great mentor anyways. he knows the game, but i doubt he knows how to teach it effectively.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting netnexus:</div><div class="quote_post">yeah i dont see KG as a great mentor anyways. he knows the game, but i doubt he knows how to teach it effectively.</div> What player has KG had to mentor? Olowokandi can have Garnett as a mentor considering their playing styles are totally different. As far as leadership and vocal leader Garnett is quite fine. And playing by example you cant get much better considering he always plays hard, and never takes a night off.
KG has to be one of the best players to have as a mentor. Yea he might not of gotten his team to the finals, but he is a winner. Look at his stats, he has been a winner his whole life. KG shows emotion and passion for the game. He is a great team leader and a vocal leader. He is your ideal PF, and your Ideal franchise player..how could you not want him to mentor a young and upcoming player?
