After just four months of lackadaisical effort; a sulking, habitually tardy, and out of shape Lamar Odom was finally placed on the permanent “inactive” list for the rest of the season by the Dallas Mavericks. That means the Mavs will unload him before next season. Prior to this ending, the Mavericks management tried to help by granting Odom a 10-day leave of absence earlier this season to attend to “personal issues”. That obviously didn’t correct the problems.
Shooting barely above 35% and averaging a measly 6.6 points and 4.2 boards per game, in-your-face Maverick owner Mark Cuban had seen enough. Thanks for the effort, Lamar! (FYI, that’s not exactly what Cuban told him). He will receive about $1M salary for the remainder of this season as well as his $2.4M contract buyout while he just sits on the sofa contemplating his future with reality star wife Khloe Kardashian. Not a bad life I guess, if you can stomach it!
Seemingly not so long ago, everything was going great for the 32-year old Odom. Playing seven productive years with the Lakers and winning two NBA titles, he was the reigning NBA’s Sixth Man-of-the-Year. Then, the sudden emergence of the much younger and current NBA All-Star Andrew Bynum made Odom immediately expendable, and that’s why they say “it’s a business”. Then disaster REALLY hit for the big man, and everything became too much to handle for him. His 24-year old cousin was murdered in July, and shortly thereafter a 15-year old pedestrian died in an SUV-motorcycle crash in which Odom was involved. His 2½-year marriage was becoming strained as well given the rigors of their “Khloe and Lamar” reality show. So, Lamar Odom did what every other man connected to a Kardashian woman has done…..HE QUIT!
It’s not legally over with yet with Khloe Kardashian, but I give the guy major props for hanging on longer with a Kardashian than his fellow NBA player New Jersey Nets Kris Humphries’ 72-day “marriage” to Kim Kardashian. Like supermodel Gisele Bundchen did for her man (Patriot QB Tom Brady) after his recent Super Bowl loss, Khloe Kardashian attempted to come to her husband’s rescue in the social media as he fell apart with the Mavericks ..….and also like Gisele, she was lambasted by the fans and reporters only making matters worse. No doubt, Odom has had a very tragic upbringing and life in general, so I ask why would he choose to compound his anguish by jumping into the Kardashian household circus? I still get disgusted when I see what’s happened to the once proud Olympic decathlon hero Bruce Jenner since he married (his 3rd) Kardashian family matriarch Kris in 1991. He’s certified proof of the life-sapping skills of these women.
Lamar Odom was a very accomplished NBA player, but he definitely needs to start taking his life and his NBA career more seriously. That won’t happen until he gets out of his current marriage (and that unfortunately won’t be easy) and totally re-dedicates himself again. Good luck, Lamar….you’ll need it!
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