Lakers forward Odom craves international success with Team USA
Lamar Odom wants an upgrade.
Not in the car he's driving. He has the top of the line with the Rolls Royce his celebrity wife, Khloe Kardashian, presented him last month after Odom helped the Los Angeles Lakers repeat as NBA champions.
The upgrade Odom seeks is from bronze to gold.
Odom, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team that won a bronze medal, would love to help his country repeat its 2008 gold medal in the 2012 Games in London. But he'll be 33 then, and his chances of being selected to the roster would be remote.
But Odom is in a position to win a gold medal with Team USA next month at the FIBA World Basketball Championships in Turkey. As the second-oldest member of the team, he'll rely on experience and versatility to help the U.S. try to win that competition for the first time since 1994.
"I'm the type of guy who doesn't need to play a lot," the forward said Friday at Team USA's minicamp at Cox Pavilion. "But if you need me to do a specific thing, play a certain role, I'll do it. I'm a team guy. I'm a locker room guy. I take pride in that. Hopefully I can help this team achieve its goal, and that's win a gold medal."
Odom will play for the White squad in the USA Basketball Showcase intrasquad game at 7 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center.
He said he wasn't sure he'd get another chance to represent his country after he couldn't play in the 2006 Worlds because of the death of his 6½-month-old son, Jayden, from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A shoulder injury kept him out of the 2007 FIBA Americas Tournament and eliminated him from 2008 Olympic consideration.
"You want to make God laugh, tell him your plans," Odom said. "I've been through a lot in my life. It hasn't been easy. But I'm blessed to have a tremendous family, a tremendous basketball family, to have the opportunity to be coached by great coaches, to learn a lot about life and basketball.
"I was hoping (another chance with Team USA) would happen. It's something I really wanted to do."
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said he was glad to finally have the chance to work with Odom.
"I love Lamar Odom," Krzyzewski said. "He's a pro's pro. I can see him on any team because of his ability to be coached and the fact he really understands the game. He'll be one of the leaders of our team."
Despite the long NBA season that took the Lakers deep into June, Odom didn't want to take the summer off. He told USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo in mid-February to count him in for the Worlds.
"Yeah, I thought about rest, but I can do that in another life," Odom said. "I might be closer to being out of the league than being a star. This doesn't happen all the time, so I need to be here."
■ NOTES -- Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans (sprained ankle) did not practice for a third straight day and probably won't play tonight, though he's listed on the Blue roster. Forward Danny Granger returned after sitting out Thursday with an ankle injury. He will play for the White squad. Colangelo said no decisions on trimming the 19-man roster will be made tonight, but the plan is to cut to 14 or 15 when the team reconvenes Aug. 10 for training camp in New York. LeBron James and Deron Williams showed up at practice Friday but were long gone by the time the workout ended.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.
