2:41pm: The Knicks never brought up the idea of signing Odom and made no offer, team sources tell TMZ Sports.
8:51am: Lamar Odom‘s camp and the Knicks had recent discussions about a comeback for former Lakers sixth man, his personal trainer Fareed Samad told TMZ Sports, adding that he was optimistic about Odom’s chances with New York. Odom was hospitalized Tuesday night after having been found unresponsive in a legal Nevada brothel. He’s in a coma and his heart is failing, according to a separate TMZ Sports report.
The Knicks signed Odom on the last day of the season in 2013/14 and released him before he ever saw action with the team. Phil Jackson, who coached Odom on the Lakers and had taken over as Knicks team president shortly before the Odom signing, brought him aboard in one of his first moves, but Odom never showed up to work out with the team while under contract that summer, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post (Twitter link).
Odom, who turns 36 next month, last appeared in an NBA game in the 2013 playoffs with the Clippers. Still, he’d lost 35 pounds off his 6’10” frame since the beginning of June this year in preparation for an NBA comeback attempt, Samad said to TMZ Sports.
The Knicks went to camp with 19 players on the roster, one beneath the preseason roster limit. Sasha Vujacic, a former Lakers teammate of Odom and another Jackson protege, is one of 13 with fully guaranteed deals even though he has played just two games in the NBA since 2010/11, demonstrating Jackson’s fondness for his purple-and-gold connections.
Still, Odom’s pressing health condition would appear to overshadow the notion of a return to the Knicks or any NBA team. The Jeff Schwartz client gained friends around the league amid a life marred by tragedy, as Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports details.
This is a guy that had so much talent. He would be considered an even more valuable player had his prime been during these last couple of years, and moving forward. Very versatile. Could pretty much do everything. Though the 3 point shot wasn’t great, he could still knock those down, and had a couple of years where he shot it at a good percentage. He only spent 1 season here, but he was fun to watch on that Heat team, back when Wade was a rookie. Hope he recovers from this. That being said, it seems like something went wrong a few years ago, and he hasn’t been the same since
you’re right. what people fail to acknowledge re Odom is his life before the NBA. yes, he was a top-rated prospect, but he had a ton of adversity and a lot of challenges. it’s worth looking into when you have the time to kill.
I am actually aware of it. He was essentially raised by his AAU coaches, being used from an early point in his life. His mom died, and he didnt have a relationship with his dad. Its hard to have people that you trust in times of adversity when you grow up in that type of situation. You also have to remember the fact that one of his kids died, and I heard that he recently had 2 of his best friends die. Hard to say what was going through Lamar Odom’s mind or what triggered this situation, or if there even was any trigger. As you said, it wasnt the easiest road for him. I wonder if anyone was aware of the situation or if people thought that when he may have said that he might not necessarily be doing so well that it doesnt make sense b.c of his financial situation being what it is. People tend to think that your problems arent a big deal when you have that kind of money.