Sometimes I wonder how good Lamar Odom could really be if he ever found any level of consistency to go along with his wide array of skills.
Odom just finished his summer as an integral piece of the American team that captured the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey.
In Istanbul Odom was Team USA's primary interior force, and the fact that he spent so much time playing the center position is just a testament to the unique versatility of his game.
I say unique because it's hard to find another player in the NBA who has Odom's size, and is just as comfortable playing on the perimeter or in the paint.
And I don't mean that Odom is just competent enough to play on the perimeter at 6'10", but he actually excels while doing it and has the ball-handling skills of a NYC playground point guard.
In fact, it's a good thing Odom is blessed with size and so many other skills, because his game is similar to many of the famed NYC point guards who could never quite get their heart and passion to match their talent.
Odom has the perimeter skills of a guard, but the paint is where he really stands out because he is an excellent rebounder and one of the NBA's more underrated interior defenders.
Odom's height matches most NBA power forwards, his defensive technique is fundamentally sound, and he has the quickness to recover if he is beaten off the dribble.
When motivated Odom can be a nightmare matchup for the opposition because there are few power forwards who can stay in front of his dribble on the perimeter.
Odom has superb vision in the open court, and is often the catalyst of the Lakers' triangle offense when in the game.
Simply put, there are few players in the NBA who possess the rare blend of fundamental skills and physical abilities that Odom is blessed with, and I can think of none who have played all five positions like Odom has.
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
Is Los Angeles Lakers Forward Lamar Odom the NBA’s Most Versatile Player?
Published: September 23, 2010Posted in: LA Lakers