Lakers greatest role players: 4. Lamar Odom
Odom was the fourth overall pick in 1999 and an established veteran before coming to the Lakers in 2004. He was part of the trade that sent Shaq to Miami as Los Angeles tried to build their roster around Kobe Bryant. Odom was a starter during his first four years with the Lakers, but he had to sacrifice on their title-winning teams as he moved into the sixth-man role.
The 6’10 big man helped Los Angeles win two championships in his seven seasons. He averaged 13.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 35.1 minutes per game during his time with the team. Odom did all the little things for those teams, including rebounding, guarding multiple positions, making extra passes, and even scoring in a pinch.
He earned the nickname Candy Man because of his well-known love for sweets, and he married Khloe Kardashian in 2009 during the height of his career with the Lakers. Odom was a fan favorite and no stranger to the spotlight during his time in LA.
Lamar Odom was traded to Dallas after the 2011 lockout, and he played just two more years in the NBA before heading overseas to finish his career. The 43-year-old is still incredibly popular and even dabbled in celebrity boxing back in 2021.