Tulsa Shock waive off Marion Jones; Bring in
Abi Olajuwon – WNBA Update
Tulsa Shock have waived off Marion Jones from their roster and have brought in University of Oklahoma centre Abi Olajuwon, it has been learnt.
Marion, a former world champion in track and field signed up with the team on March 10, 2010, but a string of low key performances in the ensuing period almost ensured the move on part of Shock.
The 35-year-old player won multiple athletic titles at the Junior National Championships and set a junior record in the 200 meters. At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the American sprinter became the first player ever to win five
gold medals in track. However, her successful came crashing down when she admitted taking steroids.
Jones was sentenced in a federal court to six months in prison following that and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) erased her from the Olympic records. She ended up giving the medals back her three gold and two bronze
medals.
However, Jones did not lose heart once her sentence ended and decided to play professional basketball, a game which she used to play at the collegiate level.
And when Tulsa offered her a tryout, she didn’t disappoint and got selected. During her rookie season, she played 34 games and scored at an average of 3.4 points and 9.4 minutes per game at the guard position. However, Jones performance
during the current season was not up to the mark as she averaged under a point in her previous 14 outings. That is the reason why Tulsa replaced her.
In a statement, released by the management, Jones thanked the Shock management for everything they had done for her "I want to thank the Tulsa Shock, Coach (Nolan) Richardson, the WNBA and my tremendous teammates for providing
me the opportunity to fulfil a dream, and a platform to demonstrate to people, especially our youth, that if you have faith, life is full of second chances.”
Abi Olajuwon, the player who has replaced Jones, is the daughter of former NBA centre Hakeem Olajuwon. She began her collegiate basketball career at the University of Oklahoma and has played for them from 2006 to 2010. The 23-year-old
helped her team win back-to-back Final Fours in 2009 and 2010 with an average of 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
The decision of the releasing Marion has definitely brought her basketball future into question.. However, Jones is still determined to serve the league whenever she gets a chance.
"I love the game and welcome another opportunity to contribute to women's professional basketball".
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