Los Angeles Clippers: 15 greatest scorers of all-time

The NBA of today is clearly very different from the one a decade ago. In 2019, we have near seven-footers handling the ball and running the offense like point guards. Back then, such a player type was unheard of, which is what made Lamar Odom such a unique talent.

Odom came into the league at just 20 years of age and would immediately begin to terrorize opponents with his versatile style of play. He stood 6-foot-10, yet operated mostly on the perimeter.

Other players his size didn’t have the lateral quickness or the speed to keep up with him outside the paint. Small guys couldn’t hold him from attacking the basket, creating the ultimate mismatch at the offensive end. He switched up his style of play so effortlessly with each possession, forcing the opposition to send a second defender in order to get the ball out of his hands.

As someone who had to be seen to be believed, Odom made sure to put on a show the fans watching would never forget. He had extreme confidence with the ball in his hands. It translated to the way he operated, combining fancy dribble moves with athletic drives to the bucket.

He was also part of an electric young trio which included Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, whose youthful energy and swagger injected new life into the Staples Center for Clippers home games.

Odom would be best known for his role in two Los Angeles Lakers championships However, it was with Los Angeles’ other team where he established himself as one of the best young talents in the game with a skill set unlike any player before him.