Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Lamar Odom stood out for his rare mix of size, ball-handling, and passing ability, giving teams a versatile forward who could influence almost every part of the game. At his best, he brought an unselfish style and unique skill set that played a major role on championship-level teams and made him one of the more difficult matchup problems of his era.

Here is the detailed profile of Lamar Odom:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Lamar Joseph Odom
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: Born November 6, 1979
  • Hometown: South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, USA.
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters).
  • Weight: During his playing career, he weighed around 220-230 pounds (100-104 kg).
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters).
  • Shoe Size: 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore #7 with the Los Angeles Lakers and #14 with the Miami Heat, among others.
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward.
  • High School: Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, Queens, New York.
  • College: University of Rhode Island.
  • NBA Draft: 1999 NBA Draft, 1st round, 4th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.
  • Teams Played For:
    • Los Angeles Clippers (1999–2003)
    • Miami Heat (2003–2004)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (2004–2011)
    • Dallas Mavericks (2011–2012)
    • Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2013)
    • Baskonia (Spain, 2014)
    • New York Knicks (2014)
  • Championship Rings: 2 (2009 and 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers).
  • Kids: Lamar Odom has three children: Destiny Odom, Lamar Odom Jr., and Jayden Odom.
  • Siblings: He has a half-sister named Jocelyn Mercer.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Lamar Odom was the prototype of a point forward, a rare 6-foot-10 playmaking forward who blended wing skills with frontcourt size and could impact a game without fitting a single traditional position. Defensively, his best role was as a rangy multi-positional helper who could switch across forward matchups, rebound in traffic, jump passing lanes and offer weak-side rim support rather than operate as a pure stopper on one assignment. Offensively, he was most dangerous as a grab-and-go creator and secondary initiator, using his handle and court vision to start breaks, find cutters and exploit mismatches while still giving teams scoring from the post, the glass and the perimeter. Physically, Odom paired unusual height and length with fluid ball skills, open-floor speed and coordination that few players his size had. In simple terms, his style was that of a versatile, tempo-shifting connector: rebound, push, create, slash, pass and fill gaps all over the floor, with matchup problems built into his frame and skill set.

Scouting Report

Lamar Odom always looked most comfortable when the game became slightly chaotic because that’s where his skill set separated him from almost every forward of his era. The first thing you notice isn’t the ball handling itself but how naturally he advanced the ball after rebounds, turning defensive possessions into early offense without needing an outlet guard, and that forced defenses to make uncomfortable decisions before they were organized. In the half court he wasn’t interested in pounding the air out of the ball. He attacked gaps with long, gliding strides, could initiate from the top, facilitate from the elbows, slip into DHOs, or punish mismatches with his back to the basket before firing passes to cutters the moment weak-side help committed. To me, that passing vision was always the defining trait because he routinely created windows most players his size never even saw. The trade-off was that his offensive aggression fluctuated. There were stretches where he blended into possessions instead of imposing himself, settling for difficult jumpers or moving the ball when a direct attack was available, and that inconsistency kept him from fully leveraging his immense offensive gifts. Defensively, his length and mobility allowed him to switch across multiple matchups, stunt into driving lanes, rotate as the low man, and recover well enough to contest at the rim without living there as a traditional shot blocker. He could occasionally lose focus away from the ball, especially when navigating multiple off-ball actions, but his combination of reach, anticipation, and fluid movement covered a lot of mistakes. What stands out is how difficult he was to fit into conventional positional labels because the offense often functioned best when he became a secondary initiator rather than simply another frontcourt scorer. Put him next to decisive guards, floor spacing, and teammates willing to cut instead of standing still, and his connective passing becomes the engine that lifts everyone else’s efficiency. Stylistically, he shared many qualities with Boris Diaw as an oversized playmaker who thrived through feel, while flashes of his grab-and-go creativity also echoed a leaner version of Giannis Antetokounmpo before the overwhelming power became the defining feature.

Notes:

  • Similar players to Lamar Odom include Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoč, Chris Webber, Detlef Schrempf, Magic Johnson, Draymond Green, Ben Simmons, Kyle Anderson, Boris Diaw, Kevin Durant, Evan Mobley, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Player Insights

Lamar Odom was considered a very good player during his prime years in the NBA, known for his versatility, basketball IQ, and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Odom entered the NBA at the same time as Tracy McGrady. McGrady, who entered the NBA straight out of high school, was only known to his local area of Bartow, Florida, but he has stated that he knew who Lamar Odom was. According to McGrady, Odom was the most popular name in basketball yet to enter the NBA, and for that reason, he looked forward to playing against him. Odom was drafted by the Clippers. He briefly played for the Miami Heat before joining Kobe Bryant playing for the Lakers. Odom then spent 7 years in the prime of his career playing alongside Kobe and competing for championships. He would eventually win two NBA titles (2009, 2010). He won Sixth Man Of The Year in 2011, but it would prove to be his last year with the Los Angeles Lakers. He then went to Dallas for one season before finishing his career where it started, with the Los Angeles Clippers. (Written March 13, 2026)

Sources: The Draft Review — “Lamar Odom”; Basketball-Reference — “Lamar Odom Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more”; NBA.com — “Clippers Have the Pieces in Place for a Deep Run”