Early Years
Lamar Odom came into the league after having a successful career at the University of Rhode Island. At Rhode Island, Odom averaged 17.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, and 3.8 apg; however, there was not much hype surrounding him.
Odom’s under-appreciation continued despite his jaw-dropping numbers during his rookie season in the NBA. As a rookie, Lamar Odom averaged nearly a double-double but was not selected as Rookie of the Year.
The honor was shared between Elton Brand and Steve Francis, while Odom only received three first place votes.
His first stay in Los Angeles quickly ended, and Odom soon joined Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat. In South Beach, Odom continued to put up stellar numbers and he was a key piece to the Heats playoff run.
In his one season with the Heat, Lamar Odom averaged 17.1 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game and 4.1 assists per game. And just like his previous years in the NBA, Odom was not named an all-star.
Once again, Lamar Odom did not receive a lot credit for the services he provided his team. The spotlight and the praise were given to Wade, while Odom was left behind to watch.
To further exemplify the lack of respect given to Odom, the Miami Heat shipped him to the Los Angeles Lakers after one year.
Next: Life in Los Angeles
