Lamar Odom has always been a good player, albeit an enigma at times, but I think it’s fair to say his name doesn’t come up when talking about the league’s elite. That could change in 2006 because if the Lakers’ first two games are any indication, the 6-foot-10 Rhode Island forward appears to be on a mission.
After just two games, Odom is averaging 28 points, 11 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game for the Lakers without Kobe.
In Tuesday’s opening night 114-106 win over Phoenix, Odom played 44 minutes losing 34 and 13 over the Suns, including seven points off a 13-1 run midway through the third quarter that set the record straight for the lakeshow. Odom also played excellent defense holding “The Matrix” Shawn Marion to just 16 points and helping out in the paint.
On Wednesday, the Lakers (who are notoriously bad in the second of two straight games) traveled to Golden State and defeated the Warriors 110-98. Odom went 9/22/9 in 33 business minutes and managed to get everyone involved on the offensive end, including Ronny Turiaf 8/23 and Luke Walton 6/15.
Odom has always had the talent. He was lost for the first four years of his career with a poor Clipper team where he was often hampered by injuries. Odom went to Miami in 2003 as a restricted free agent and was misused by the Heat with no direction. He was sent back to Los Angeles the following year as part of the mega deal involving Shaquille O’Neal.
Odom hasn’t always been a favorite of Lakers coach Phil Jackson, as he was slow to adopt the triangle offense and basically lost trying to adapt his own game to Kobe’s. He showed signs in the second half of last year helping lead the Lakers from almost midway oblivion to a playoff berth.
I was lucky enough to get to know Lamar a little while in college at UNLV. We watched the Tyson-Holyfield ear biting fiasco and an NBA draft at a mutual friend’s house and found him extremely sharp with a great sense of humor. He was also humble and sincere, rare qualities in today’s athlete.
Odom lost a six-month-old son during the offseason, a tragedy no parent should have to endure. I’m not qualified or bold enough to say that this would represent a more mature and focused Lamar Odom, but I would have to think that it put a lot of things into true perspective for him.
Lamar Odom and the Lakers are off to a fast start. Is this a big year for Lamar Odom? I hope so.
