The Los Angeles Lakers went through dark times when the franchise decided to break up the team and rebuild in 2004. Gone was Shaquille O’Neal, who was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Caron Butler. It was Kobe Bryant’s team now, and there was no telling what would happen from there.
It was obvious that Bryant could not carry the team alone. Odom was capable of helping, although he had to be patient since the team was in the rebuilding phase.
“Since I’ve been on this team, success has been our enemy a little bit,” Odom said via NYT at the time. “The mystique, I think that’s part of it. With new guys coming into the Lakers, all the intrigue, maybe we thought it was going to be a little bit easier.”
Things would only get difficult for the lefty forward and the Lakers, especially with Kob’ missing games after suffering a severe ankle sprain. Hence, this meant that Lamar had to step, up although he gave a different perspective on the matter.
“As a unit, of course we want him out there, but in a way, I think everyone is almost looking forward to see what they can do, and how they can help this team,” L.O. added. “When you see Kobe Bryant to down, everyone’s going to want to step up.”
Optimistic as Odom may have been, “Lady Luck” just frowned on LA that year. Then-Lakers head coach Rudy Tomjanovich had to step down after 43 games, allegedly due to mental and physical exhaustion. Frank Hamblem replaced him in an interim capacity for the rest of the season.
Things didn’t get better for the Purple and Gold, with L.O. also sidelined in March 2005 due to a rotator cuff injury in his left shoulder. The Lakers’ leading rebounder and third-leading scorer that season opted to undergo surgery, which kept him out for about four months.
With two of their best players out and a change at the coaching helm, the Lakers were expected to falter. They would lose 19 of their final 21 games, finishing the season with a dismal 34-48 win-loss record. It was only the fifth time in franchise history that LA failed to make the playoffs.
Despite a forgettable first season with the Lakers, Odom was not deterred. He believed that with “Mamba” leading the way, LA would eventually win more NBA titles. However, he knew that he and the rest of the team had to do their part.
“We have the best player in the NBA on our team. If we do the little things, he’s a guy who can take it home. I’ve never seen him take a play off, he wants to win every game,” “Candy Man” stated via NYT.
Although he was considered a key player next to Kobe, Odom blossomed coming off the bench for the Lakers. Even if it meant sacrificing his numbers, the returns were huge in the form of two championships (2009 and 2010).
It was sweeter for Lamar because he capped his stint in the City of Angels with the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2011, making him the first player in a Purple and Gold uniform to do so.
