Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Branden Dawson returned to practice yesterday after being arrested last month, Dan Woike of the OC Register tweets.
TMZ Sports originally broke the news of his arrest:
Clippers forward Branden Dawson was arrested for felony domestic violence this morning… TMZ Sports has learned.
We’re told he was taken into custody around 8:30 in LA this morning. He’s currently being held on $50,000 bail.
Dawson was a star player at Michigan State before being selected in the 2nd round in the 2015 draft.
Shyanne Queen, the woman who claims Branden Dawson assaulted her, recently uploaded photos showing bruises on her legs, elbows, and arms.
Dawson, picked #56 overall in the 2015 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, was dealt to the Clippers in a draft night trade. The Clippers hope he’ll become a valuable contributor for the team in the future, despite only giving him fifteen minutes of in-game action so far this season. Since the season started, Dawson has spent most of his time leaving and re-joining the NBA D-League, appearing in just three Clippers games in all.
Head coach Doc Rivers was asked whether Dawson’s case had officially been resolved at yesterday’s practice.
Following from Robert Morales of the Long Beach Press-Telegram:
Coach Doc Rivers was asked if that means the case, which is scheduled for arraignment Thursday unless it is dismissed before then by the District Attorney’s office, has been resolved.
“Not really,” he said. “I think it’s resolved as far as we’re comfortable where it’s at. But they still haven’t announced anything, so we still have to wait.”
A reporter wanted to know if there was any more light Rivers could shed on the situation.
“No, it’s up to the police and all that,” he said.
Rivers also said he was “comfortable” with the details of the situation as conveyed to the Clippers’ organization by the police.
Branden Dawson played a key role in helping his team advance to Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 2015, and was recently recalled from the D-League after another brief stint. According to Dan Woike, there is various optimism within the Clippers organization that Dawson will not be charged and will be able to stay with the team for the rest of the season.
In the NBA D-League this year, Dawson has averaged 10.3 points per game in 21.1 minutes, while shooting a respectable 52% from the floor. With Blake Griffin returning today and the Playoffs nearing, it’s likely Branden Dawson won’t officially play in a Clippers uniform again until next season.
