Many basketball players with this resume would be considered one of the best in the league. But not Lamar Odom.
It seems like Odom has received more attention from his marriage to Khloé Kardashian and being the NBA’s “Candy Man” than for his accomplishments. For many Lakers fans, Odom is seen as an inconsistent player.
One game he will put up close to 20 points and grab 12 or more rebounds, playing at an all-star level. The next game may then see Odom scoring just 5 points.
In terms of pure talent, few players rank above Odom in the world. He is one of only a handful of 6’ 10” players that can act as a primary ball handler and playmaker, a top rebounder, play stellar defense, and shoot out to three-point range. Speaking of his playmaking abilities, he often teams with Pau Gasol to form arguably the best passing big man duo in the NBA.
Yet, despite his abilities, Lamar Odom has never been an NBA all-star. As the leader of the Lakers’ bench, it is appalling that he has yet to win a Sixth Man of the Year Award. While his overall bench stats are impressive, Odom excels at being the catalyst of the triangle offense.
Trying to defend Odom is a challenge for most teams. Lamar Odom has proved to be too tall and strong for most small forward defenders. Paired against power forwards, Lamar Odom can take advantage of his quickness.
He may be the best in the league at rebounding the ball and running the break. He’s effective in defending big players, practicing against Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in practice on a daily basis.
For the first time, many basketball fans around the world got to see why Lamar Odom is such an impo...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
