Tag: Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom: Kobe Bryant once said he was better than Michael Jordan

According to Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant once proclaimed to his Lakers teammates that he was superior to the man he was always compared to.

For much of his legendary 20-year career, late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant was compared to Michael Jordan, to the point that it likely irritated many fans. However, the comparisons were valid, even though Bryant never quite matched Jordan’s accomplishments or greatness.

In the end, though, Bryant came rather close to equaling Jordan’s body of work. He could be described as a less physically gifted version of the Chicago Bulls legend, sans the gnarly vertical leap (Jordan reportedly had a 48-inch vertical leap), huge hands and greater strength and explosiveness.

But the male ego can be a very powerful and intoxicating thing. Lamar Odom said on a recent episode of the LADE Podcast, Bryant once proclaimed to the Lakers during the 2009-10 season that he was indeed better than Jordan (h/t Lakers Nation).

“I’m gonna keep it real with you. We were on the bus one night, I think this was after he hit his ninth game-winner, against Milwaukee. (Kobe) came on the bus and in front of me and Phil (Jackson), he was just like ‘Yo, I’m better than Mike.’ I said ‘What?!’ He said ‘Yo, I’m better than Mike.’ I was like ‘Bean, you’re going a long way with that.’ I was like ‘What, you’re better than Mike? That’s how you’re feeling?’ If he really said that, you know he felt it. He hit nine walk-offs that season. Nine walk-offs, ’Three, two, one…’ He hit nine in one season.”

It sounds like, judging from Odom’s detailed description, Bryant’s proclamation may have been directed at Jackson, the Lakers’ then-head coach who had also guided Jordan to each of his six NBA championships in the 1990s.

No matter where Bryant ultimately belongs on the list of the greatest basketball players of all time, he unquestionably left his mark on the Lakers franchise, not to mention Southern California and sports in general.

Lamar Odom proposes an interesting new starting five for the Lakers

Lamar Odom feels this starting lineup could fix the Lakers’ recent problems.

Losers of four games in a row, the Los Angeles Lakers are in great need of something that will get them back on track.

Everyone seems to have an idea what might work for the team. Many are suggesting various solutions from hypothetical trades to lineup and rotation changes. There is also a growing group of fans who are practically begging for head coach Darvin Ham to be fired.

Former Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who was a two-time NBA champion while with the team, believes a change to the starting lineup might be the elixir the team needs (h/t Lakers Daily).

Odom believes moving LeBron James to the point guard position, the position he played when the Lakers won the world title four seasons ago, would be a prudent decision. In addition, he thinks Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt should be given back their starting jobs, while forward Rui Hachimura should also start.

While this lineup would give L.A. defensive length and versatility, it would weaken its bench offensively. In addition, James would be saddled with a heavy load when it comes to playmaking because Reaves isn’t a natural playmaker or facilitating guard.

Lamar Odom on Celtics fans who shook Lakers bus after 2008 NBA Finals

Lamar Odom talked about the painful memory of Celtics fans getting riotous following the Lakers’ loss in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

The 2007-08 season was a roller coaster ride for the Los Angeles Lakers. They began the season with Kobe Bryant holding firm to the trade demand he had made during the summer, and the team was simply hoping he would stick around for a while.

He did, and the Lakers got off to a strong start. But when emerging center Andrew Bynum went down with a season-ending injury in January, their playoff hopes were suddenly in jeopardy.

However, on Feb. 1, future Hall of Fame big man Pau Gasol arrived via trade, and the team hopped on a magic carpet ride that took it all the way to the NBA Finals. There, it revived its long-dormant rivalry with the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics outmuscled and outhustled the Lakers in six games, and they pulverized L.A. in Game 6, 131-92. But that wasn’t the end of the Lakers’ suffering, as their team bus was attacked by delirious Boston fans following the final contest.

Lamar Odom recalled how scary the situation was, especially since family members of Lakers players were also in the vehicle (h/t Lakers Daily).

“The first series is why I hate the Celtics,” Odom said. “‘Cause, they beat us by like 35 in Game 6. When you go to the Finals, you got your family on the bus – everybody on the bus and all that. They beat us by 35, these fans surrounded our bus and started shaking it.

“They didn’t care,” Odom said of the fans, when asked if the families were on the bus at the time.

Odom was a key member of those L.A. teams ever since he came in the Shaquille O’Neal trade in 2004. He struggled in his first three seasons with the team after being miscast as Bryant’s offensive sidekick, but after the Gasol trade, he thrived as a Swiss Army knife after the burden of being a scoring threat was lifted off his shoulders.

The Lakers rebounded from that loss in the 2008 finals to win the next two NBA championships, including one over the Celtics in 2010. Those two titles made Odom a central figure in team history, as he was the Lakers’ invaluable sixth man and one of its most vocal leaders.

Lamar Odom is bullish on the Lakers’ signing of Christian Wood

Former Lakers forward Lamar Odom thinks Christian Wood will greatly help the team this coming season.

Lamar Odom is one of the most-liked men to ever play for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the team for seven seasons from 2004 to 2011, and he played a key role in its back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010 as the sixth man and occasional starter.

But when Odom first came to the team, he had a somewhat questionable reputation. He also struggled in his first few seasons with the Purple and Gold when he was miscast as Kobe Bryant’s sidekick and the team’s No. 2 offensive option.

Christian Wood, the Lakers’ newest member, also has a questionable reputation, but like Odom, his talent and skill are undeniable. He also has the opportunity to make a positive name for himself this season.

On X, formally known as Twitter, Odom made it clear he likes the acquisition of Wood and said the Lakers can be a “real big time threat.”

A number of players with checkered pasts have come to the Lakers and turned their careers and reputations around. That is the immense opportunity that is in front of Wood right now, and it was the same type of opportunity Odom took full advantage of back in the day.

LOOK: Kim Kardashian at NBA games through the years

Celebrity and businesswoman Kim Kardashian was briefly married to former NBA forward Kris Humphries and is an LA fan since Lamar Odom wore the Lakers. Check out some pictures of Kardashian at NBA games through the years.

Kim Kardashian attended the 104-101 Lakers’ win in Game 4 vs. the Golden State Warriors. The celebrity and businesswoman. who’s had several family connections with the NBA (including a marriage to forward Kris Humphries), has watched quite a few games live over the years.

Check out some pictures of Kardashian at NBA games below.

Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason reflect on NBA All-Rookie seasons in Houston

“Just looking back at the ups and downs and where I am now, I feel like I am a totally different player than I was back in October,” Jabari Smith Jr. says of his rookie season. #Rockets

When the visiting locker room opened at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., the mood inside was somber.

The dark cloud figuratively hovering involved unconfirmed reports head coach Stephen Silas would not return to the Rockets because the organization had decided not to extend his contract.

Silas addressed the players after that game, which was Houston’s finale of the 2022-23 season, to discuss his future.

Even though the group of young men had emotions all over the place, they took solace in knowing they had played very well down the stretch for Silas. Houston won three straight games and four of its last five, including a win over the Wizards in that April 9 game.

Two key leaders for the Rockets in that victory were a pair of rookies who had listened intently to Silas’ guidance throughout the season. Rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason played with tremendous intent every time they stepped onto the hardwood. On Monday, they were rewarded for their hard work and dedication. Both were named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team.

Smith and Eason joined teammates Jalen Green (2021-22 first team) and Jae’Sean Tate (2020-21 first team) in being named to All-Rookie teams over the last three seasons. Smith and Eason are both prospects primarily known for their defense.

After spending one season in college at Auburn, Smith came into his rookie season with high expectations as the No. 3 pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft. He started 79 out of 82 games this season, averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

“Just looking back at the ups and downs and looking at where I am now, I just feel like I am a totally different player than I was back in October playing in Atlanta for the first game,” Smith said after a home win over Denver on April 4. “The game is so much slower for me, and I feel like the improvement has been noticeable.”

Smith took his game to another level over the final 18 games, averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds. During that span, he recorded eight of his season-high 16 double-doubles. In doing so, he joined Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić as the only rookies to ever record at least 550 rebounds and 100 made 3-pointers in a season.

As for Eason, he knew entering the NBA that he was embarking upon on a familiar path of proving himself. It’s what he did going from high school in Seattle, Washington, to the University of Cincinnati for one season, and then to LSU, his final college destination.

Eason was selected by the Rockets with the No. 17 pick in the 2022 draft. With no defined role, Eason used his ability to make the right plays at the right time to gain more playing time throughout the season. He appeared in all 82 games, averaging 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.17 steals in 21.5 minutes.

The former All-SEC first-team member and Sixth Man of the Year became the fifth NBA rookie to record at least 450 rebounds, 90 steals, 40 blocks, and 50 3-pointers, joining Carmelo Anthony, Larry Bird, Lamar Odom and Antoine Walker. Eason was the third player in league history with at least 190 offensive rebounds and 90 steals while playing fewer than 1,800 minutes.

“I learned a lot,” Eason said after the victory over Denver in Houston’s home finale. “It is hard to say everything because I learned so much on a day-to-day basis. I learned how to control my mentality. Knowing when to go and pick my spots. This is my first season in the NBA, and I learned the precedent of what was to come and what I should expect and the standards that should be met.”

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Lamar Odom: Lakers will win NBA championship if LeBron James is healthy

Former Lakers forward Lamar Odom thinks his former team is poised to do something special over the next two months.

Over the last few weeks, an increasing number of people have started believing the Los Angeles Lakers could be a threat to win this year’s NBA championship.

They had the league’s second-best record after the All-Star break and finished the regular season by winning 10 of their last 12 games. They seemed to reinforce their newfound status as a legitimate threat by taking Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, 128-112, on Sunday.

Lamar Odom, a forward who played for the Lakers from 2005-2011 and won two world championship rings with them in 2009 and 2010, said that if LeBron James remains healthy, they will win it all this year.

Via TMZ.com:

“God James. His name is God James. The god of basketball,” Odom said. “As long as we healthy, we’re gonna win a championship.”

Perhaps Odom is thinking L.A. will make a run similar to the one it made with him in 2008 when a midseason trade for Pau Gasol transformed it from a decent squad when healthy to a juggernaut. It ended up reaching the NBA Finals where it lost in six games to the Boston Celtics.

This year, trades for Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba salvaged the Lakers’ season and made them look reborn.

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Lamar Odom: Trading LeBron would put Lakers ‘back into contention’

Former Laker Lamar Odom seems to think it would be a good idea for his former team to pull the plug on LeBron James.

Back in the day, Lamar Odom was one of the best and most valuable players on the Los Angeles Lakers, not to mention one of their most popular players.

He played seven seasons with the team and was an indispensable part of three straight trips to the NBA Finals and back-to-back world championships.

Although he hasn’t played in the NBA since 2013, Odom is still well-liked among Lakers fans, and every now and then he will make an appearance in public.

Recently, he commented on his former team’s troubles this season and suggested they trade LeBron James.

In fact, he said if they were to trade James, they would get back on track right away.

“If you trade LeBron you’re doing more than rebuilding. … If you did, you’re probably going to put yourself right back into contention. … You’re picking two or three players that been playing together already.”

There are some Lakers fans who wouldn’t exactly mind James being sent somewhere else, especially since it seems the team is stuck in mud with a 3-10 record and limited trade assets.

However, there seems to be a better chance of a Category 5 hurricane striking Southern California next summer than owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka deciding to trade their franchise player anytime soon.

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The head coach Lamar Odom says the Lakers should hire

Former Lakers forward Lamar Odom has a very specific coach in mind for his former team.

About a decade ago, Lamar Odom was one of the most important and popular players on the Los Angeles Lakers.

He provided a varied set of skills for their Kobe Bryant-led squads while helping them win back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.

Their coach was, of course, Phil Jackson, who is regarded by many as the greatest coach in league history.

Odom recently said that Jackson would be the best candidate to take the Lakers’ vacant head coaching spot.

Via TMZ Sports:

“Phil Jackson, I know can coach LeBron [James] with the triangle offense,” Odom said. “I think that would keep [LeBron] around a little longer. Preserve him a little longer.”

“I would love for Phil Jackson to be the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.”

The former Sixth Man of the Year even said that his old team would be very successful if Jackson returned to the bench.

Via TMZ Sports:

“LO told us if the Lakers hired Phil [Jackson] as their next coach, they will win the NBA championship next season.

“‘If he was to come back and coach the Lakers, I think the Lakers would be the pick — the fan-favorite.'”

Of course, there is virtually no chance of Jackson coming back to the Lakers. He is 76 years of age, and one of the reasons he retired from coaching in 2011 was some physical ailments that made the NBA’s insane travel schedule very arduous for him.

In addition, Jackson doesn’t seem to respect James the same way he respected Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. A few years ago, the former coach infamously referred to the men at Klutch Sports Agency, James’ agency, which is run by his longtime friend Rich Paul, as James’ “posse.”

The comment led to Jackson receiving lots of criticism from across the basketball community and even some accusations of racism.

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Lamar Odom absolutely destroyed Aaron Carter in celebrity boxing match, and people couldn’t look away

The best way to describe Friday’s celebrity boxing match between Lamar Odom and Aaron Carter is like a car crash you can’t turn away from.

The best way to describe Friday night’s celebrity boxing match between former NBA star Lamar Odom and rapper Aaron Carter is like a car crash you can’t turn away from.

The match wasn’t a fair fight from the start with the 6-foot-10, 259-pound Odom squaring off against Carter, who is some 10 inches shorter and 80 pounds lighter. Odom flat-out bullied Carter around the ring, delivering a string of punches that ultimately took him out via TKO in the second round.

It was a miracle that Carter lasted until the second round — although he did land some punches to Odom’s head in the first round — where Odom’s size eventually wore Carter down.

While the boxing match was as ridiculous as you might’ve expected — with one of the highlights being UFC legend Chuck Liddell as the referee — people couldn’t look away.