Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 8:00 am  |  115 responses

Top 50: Lamar Odom, no. 33

The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.

by Vincent Thomas / @vincecathomas

Initially, 50 players seems like a truckload of hoopers, doesn’t it? Like it’s not that exclusive of a group. So someone that we rank, say 33rd best, like Lamar Odom, almost seems like a slight, to me. It’s like, “Wait. There’s no way there are 33 players better than Lamar Odom! A do-it-all forward that’s a cross between Magic, Worthy and AC Green all the way down at No. Lamar Odom33?! Get real.”

But then again, some of you — maybe even most of you — may be reading this and blasting us for including Mar, at all. “”Wait. There’s no way that Odom is the XX best dude in the NBA. A do-it-all forward that’s a cross between Magic, Worthy and AC Green, but some games has about the same impact as Brian Cook?! Get real.”

That’s what’s most compelling about Odom’s current standing in the League. This season coming up is Odom’s 11th. After you ball for a whole decade in the League, your full career starts to congeal and Odom has basically cemented a rep. He’s no longer the youngster full of potential, he’s the versatile vet, a supreme X-Factor. But the term “X-Factor” isn’t necessarily a compliment when it’s handed to a 30-year-old ball player. Veiled in that moniker is the basic premise that no one knows what said player is gonna bring to the table each game.

So be it. That’s just how it goes for Odom. Over the years, he’s become one of the NBA’s more polarizing figures. Some love him, some can’t stand him. Even the cats that dig him a lot — like yours truly — can’t stand him sometimes. It’s not because he’s a bad dude. In fact, Odom is one of the most decent and thoughtful players in the League. Nah, Odom polarizes because, for some, he never lives up to their expectations; for others, it can be maddening to hear the constant frustrated barbs thrown his way. I tend to think that most of the Odom Hate is a lot of ridiculous projecting and sophomoric pettiness, but, I’d be a liar if I said it didn’t have, at least, some merit.

But then there’s idiocy, like the beginning of last season when fans and journalists insisted on calling Odom the fourth best Laker. That’s just the kind of unbelievably flawed thinking that you get from people bent on detracting from what Odom actually brings to the table. I mean, how could anyone seriously say that Bynum was a better ball player than Odom? In all honesty, there are some nights when Odom is L.A.’s second best player. Those nights when he’s subtly directing traffic, gobbling up almost any shot that caroms off the rim, bothering all types of shots from the weakside, scoring at just the right time. And that demeanor of his — what his detractors call being soft and passive — is what allowed him to blunt his game and ego for a larger goal, last season.

Toward the end of this past season, for one of my NBA.com columns, I fleshed out this term I like to use — Franchise Role Players. Here’s an excerpt germane to our inclusion of Odom in the SLAMonline Top 50…

“Last season, sometime in March [of '08] during one of Lamar Odom’s double-double strings, my boy and I came up with a term to describe a certain set of the League’s gifted performers. We call them Franchise Role Players (FRP). Odom, Tony Parker, Josh Smith and others are from the ilk that gave us the Dennis Rodmans and Dennis Johnsons of previous generations. They’re the complimentary players with very specific roles, assignments, responsibilities — whatever you want to call them — who perform these tasks with such impact that, on many nights, they are just as responsible for Ws as the stars that lead the teams. Don’t mistake them for the narrowly specialized, lower-impact “role players,” or the somewhat nondescript, low-consequence “get-in-where-they-fit-in” typical rotation players. Not even James Posey, a role-player poster boy, can claim inclusion in the FRP ranks.”

There may be 33, heck 43, other players that you’d rather start a team with, but there is not 33 better basketball players than Lamar Odom. There also isn’t 33 players of more value than Odom. Given that his double-doubles and facilitation is very responsible for making the Lakers favorites — and not just contenders — I’d have no problem with Odom cracking the Top 30. And if I really want to get crazy, I could go even more exclusive. Don’t tempt me.

Vincent Thomas is a columnist and feature writer for SLAM, a contributing commentator for ESPN and writes the weekly “From The Floor” column for NBA.com. You can email him your feedback at vincethomas79@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @vincecathomas.

Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ’09-10 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Jake Appleman, Brett Ballantini, Russ Bengtson, Toney Blare, Shannon Booher, Myles Brown, Franklyn Calle, Gregory Dole, Emry DowningHall, Jonathan Evans, Adam Fleischer, Jeff Fox, Sherman Johnson, Aaron Kaplowitz, John Krolik, Holly MacKenzie, Ryne Nelson, Chris O’Leary, Ben Osborne, Alan Paul, Susan Price, Sam Rubenstein, Khalid Salaam, Kye Stephenson, Adam Sweeney, Vincent Thomas, Tzvi Twersky, Justin Walsh, Joey Whelan, Eric Woodyard, and Nima Zarrabi.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.

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  • Ouse Posted: Sep.17 at 8:03 am
    Nice placement, no player in the world quite like Mar

  • ctkennedy Posted: Sep.17 at 8:15 am
    finally somebody that knows how much odom is worth he averages a double double in a half think about that he avg more boards than bosh amare second best ballhandler on the squad better playmaker than bibby plays better post d than varego and thats what he in the league for odom is the total package

  • a_whiteman Posted: Sep.17 at 8:18 am
    Loved lamars game since day 1 I have no problem with this
    Spot

  • Ken Posted: Sep.17 at 8:20 am
    I’m not sold on him. I saw him once in person last year, which was the Lakers at Phx, and he fouled out with like 4 points. Is he talented? Yes. We knew this when he was still at Providence. It’s the inability to give consistent effort that irks the hell out of me. So much talent, but such inconsistent effort.

  • Mansonovic Posted: Sep.17 at 8:39 am
    I hate to be a pedant, but shouldn’t that “32 players better”?

  • Mansonovic Posted: Sep.17 at 8:39 am
    I hate to be a pedant, but shouldn’t that read “32 players better”?

  • Mansonovic Posted: Sep.17 at 8:41 am
    You’re right. There is no way there are 33 players better than Lamar Odom. But only because LO is actually number 33. Which means there are 32 players better. Yeah, I can be a pedant…

  • Mansonovic Posted: Sep.17 at 8:42 am
    Damn, I hate my web browser. Apologies for the multiple posts.

  • Mansonovic Posted: Sep.17 at 8:47 am
    For the record, for what he CAN do, LO would be top 30 for me.

  • Abdul-Salaam Posted: Sep.17 at 8:48 am
    providence? rhode island maybe…..

  • nobs6669 Posted: Sep.17 at 9:13 am
    he has a the skill to be a top 10 player but consistency is not the name of his game

  • The Real Posted: Sep.17 at 9:15 am
    too high, he does not play hard every night, AND he is dating the FAT Kardashian sister, haha

  • Jeff Fox Posted: Sep.17 at 9:18 am
    The crazy thing is he never has made an All-Star team.

  • tavoris Posted: Sep.17 at 9:23 am
    The Real, Odom is a married man…not hardly checking for a Kardashain…and he does play hard. The game of basketball is effortless for him, so it looks like he’s not trying.

  • Simon S.Y Lawy Posted: Sep.17 at 9:34 am
    Good spot

  • Yesse Posted: Sep.17 at 9:37 am
    Well a good spot, but honestly im getting bored of commeting to this thing.I think im just gonna check the list when its ready.

  • Latin Syndicate Posted: Sep.17 at 9:43 am
    To Abdul-Salaam: Providence is in Rhode Island hommie. Get a map. To The Real: To a whiteboy she may be fat, but to a person of ethnicity she is one delicious piece of ass.

  • kobesbestfriend Posted: Sep.17 at 9:52 am
    r u freakn kidding me???THERE IS NO WAY LO IS IN THE TOP 50!!!y do u think the zen master benched his sorry ass???he’s a role player that gets paid franchise player $!!!he is the sole reason the lakers lost 2 the celtics in the finals last year!!!he’s has always underachieved and never will play up 2 his potential!!!

  • Brad Long Posted: Sep.17 at 9:53 am
    Jeff:I thought he was an All-Star reserve in Miami that season. No? That’s crazy.

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.17 at 9:55 am
    The problem with this spot is that he really should be better than this. But this is where he deserves to be. Also it appears there is no bynum.

  • Brad Long Posted: Sep.17 at 10:04 am
    I’m feeling the Franchise Role Player label too. Great stuff, Commish.

  • tavoris Posted: Sep.17 at 10:07 am
    this seems about right, considering there are 29 more teams out there with at least 1 player more valuable than Odom.

  • Klav Posted: Sep.17 at 10:24 am
    kobesbestfriend, actually the Lakers didn’t lose to Boston because of that. They lost because they had Vladimir FREAKIN Radmonovic guard Paul Pierce. When the guy moves like a pirate with one leg, I’m sure an all-star like PP would get automatic points just standing on the court. Dude couldn’t play defense. And as far as I’m concerned with LO, he was benched to give the offense a better flow, you probably don’t even watch Laker games. Don’t talk. Anybody willing to argue about how important it is to start, it doesn’t, because all that matters is if you’re playing when the game is on the line.

  • JDH21 Posted: Sep.17 at 10:29 am
    There is no way he is a better player than Rudy Gay or Gilbert Arenas. The guy has talent so what Darius Miles also has a lot of talent. Put him on a lesser team and he would be an average player at best.

  • Z Posted: Sep.17 at 10:36 am
    Jeff, he has never been robbed of an all-star berth either when you think about it. (unlike KD last year)

  • Ted D. the Bear Posted: Sep.17 at 10:51 am
    He should be waaay lower on this list, if at all. Come on now. I’d rather have Gilbert, Artest, Turkoglu, and Lamarcus Aldridge all before this guy. He’s the fourth option on a team, why should be ahead of their second/third option? Ridiculous. Sure Odom has talent, but when has he ever dominated the league like all the journalists thought he would? I’ll wait…
    Exactly.

  • Z Posted: Sep.17 at 10:53 am
    I also think that Lamar looks better than he actually his. 15 and 9 career avgs is really good but not all star worthy. He had never played less than 35 mins a game prior to last year and he was first or second option his whole career in MIA, LAC and LAL before Pau got there. What I’m saying is that we have seen LO’s potential. It’s 15 and 9. Really good but not great either. He’s just so smooth that he makes you think he can do more.

  • Eric Woodyard Posted: Sep.17 at 10:54 am
    good write up! I love LO’s game he just gotta be more consistent…if he’s consistent he will cleary be a top 3 forward in the league…hands down!!

  • Lakets Posted: Sep.17 at 10:57 am
    nice position for my man lamar… not to low and not to high… GOOOO LAKERS

  • Chris Posted: Sep.17 at 11:04 am
    Love LO. This guy is incredible. Get past the inconsistencies, No one as big and tall as him has playes in the back court. I loved Slam’s Poster with Magic on one side in th eLakers Uni, and
    Odom on the other. Hey so what i have been asking everyone is who do you think Phil will have in the line up at the end of the game now?

  • jk_light Posted: Sep.17 at 11:08 am
    Co-sign Z

  • Allenp Posted: Sep.17 at 11:09 am
    Nice write up Vince.
    However, I had a problem with this line:
    “There may be 33, heck 43, other players that you’d rather start a team with, but there is not 33 better basketball players than Lamar Odom.”
    That seems to directly contradict what Lang said about a certain player who shall not be named. The opposite was used to justify that unnamed players ranking.
    Personally, I don’t really care where Lamar is ranked, but I’m curious about the different standard.

  • Brad Long Posted: Sep.17 at 11:17 am
    It’s because Lamar Odom is white, Allenp.

  • Z Posted: Sep.17 at 11:19 am
    C’mon, Eric. Top 3 forward? Don’t be silly. LO is not in the same league as guys like Bron, KG, TD, STAT, CB4, Dirk, etc. / LO is VERY consistent. He’ll give you 14-15 ppg, 9-10 rbg every year. Cats just have to accept that that’s who he is. He’s in his 11th year and we’re still talking about shoulda woulda couldas? For real?

  • Bruno Posted: Sep.17 at 11:30 am
    when odom is playing his best basketball there’s no way anybobody is beating the Lakers
    and who says this is not true???

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.17 at 11:36 am
    @ z: I disagree. I think Lamar was the mvp of their team last season. Not the best laker player of course, but their most valuable. If he goes, so do the lakers. Those back to back 3′s in game 5 killed the magic run. He’s awesome and capable of so much more if given the shots. Thing is, he’s unselfish. Just like bron, if there’s an open man, he’ll get it to you. He rebounds, passes and he’s got mad handles. It’s amazing too how one player just ends up playing his whole career in miami and los angeles. If he plays for the knicks at some point, he would have played for the 3 top destinations any nba player would choose.

  • niQ Posted: Sep.17 at 11:36 am
    Danny Granger better be top 10. That is all.

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.17 at 11:41 am
    @ slam: Can you guys tell us when t-mac is gonna return? Some like myself think he’s playing at the start of the season and some are saying march. From what i know, he’s been working with tim grover and looking really dood but i could be wrong.

  • Moose Posted: Sep.17 at 11:45 am
    Will produce more than Arenas? He’s the fourth option on the Lakers, Gilbert is first or second on the Wiz. I don’t see it.

  • rikson Posted: Sep.17 at 11:47 am
    Great player! The sky is the limit, but very, VERY unconsistent….

  • Kadavour Posted: Sep.17 at 11:47 am
    whoa Z, a consistent Lamar Odom is probably THE BEST offensive rebounder in the league with 2 blocks and 5-6 dishes a night. He had a string of games with something like 16rebs, 17 the next night, 18 the night after that until he hit 20 i believe. Can’t really remember it too straight, but when he’s ready to ball, he’s a top tier forward.

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.17 at 11:47 am
    @ z: Odom is the lakers most valuable player. Not the best, but their most valuable. When he goes, so do the lakers. He could easily be averaging more points but dude is very unselfish. Just like bron,he’ll always find the open man first.He may not be comfortable being a leader and prefers taking a backseat but as far as talent is concerned, he’s up there with the best of them. There isn’t anything he doesn’t do well. Very complete game and can adjust his game to any kind of offense. Those numbers are misleading. He’s not just a 15 and 9 guy.

  • matt the jazz fan Posted: Sep.17 at 11:48 am
    Great write-up, and I’d err on the side of including L.O. a little higher, but then it depends on who’s in the top 32.
    HOWEVA – Tony Parker is NOT a role player, not unless you include “brilliant point guard” as a role. He was the Spurs’ best player most of last season.

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.17 at 11:49 am
    Sorry for the re-post,i thought the first post to z didn’t go through.

  • kobesbestfriend Posted: Sep.17 at 11:52 am
    dont get me wrong…LO is good just not a top 50 player…he was supposed 2 be kobe’s pippen when they traded shaq for him but never assumed the role…hell ariza played harder than him this year…i think it was a mistake they kept lamar over trevor and the lakers might pay for it this year…i guarantee now that he has a contract LO will get injured like he usually did b4 his contract year and stay home and eat candy while trevor is lighting the west up…do u think phil woulda ever benched scottie like that???

  • ab_40 Posted: Sep.17 at 12:04 pm
    he’s a good at everything great at nothing player and he’s find a role on the court which he’s comfortable with. and the LA spotlight doesn’t hurt either. I realy liked his game in miami the way he played there aggresive and strong. I think he would do great on any contender off the bench or as a starter

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.17 at 12:04 pm
    kobesbestfriend is going a bit too far. Well, way too far.

  • Klav Posted: Sep.17 at 12:05 pm
    kobesbestfriend, Ariza cannot and will not be able to create his own shot. He thrives off of energy and hustle plays. Now he is actually able to hit the trey, and he can slash, but he’s not a guy who can pull up. He can’t rebound or run the point like Odom can. I will give Ariza credit for saving everyone’s a$$ against Denver, TWICE…but don’t let his short-term spectacular plays dictate what you think of him. His lack of versatility as a player (lets keep in mind his size) is what kept him from being the priority over Odom. If Artest was still in his prime, he would be a Trevor Ariza times three.

  • riggs Posted: Sep.17 at 12:09 pm
    too high for this douche

  • kobesbestfriend Posted: Sep.17 at 12:15 pm
    luke walton can do just about everythang lamar odom can do…lo isnt the defensive stopper ariza was or can he create space in the triangle for kobe and pau to be more effective like ariza…lamar has always struggled in the triangle that is y the zen master benched him…probly bench him next year too…top 50???what a joke!!!

  • Klav Posted: Sep.17 at 12:24 pm
    That’s why PJ benched him? How about answering why Walton rode the bench so much. Because he sucks. You’re really lobbying for Luke Walton? Walton can’t even guard Odom, and you’re trying to compare the two? Odom struggle in the triangle? That’s why he creates just about EVERY SINGLE matchup problem. When the game was on the line Luke wasn’t even in the game, neither was Bynum (which by your argument is SO IMPORTANT since he is a STARTER). That’s why Fish, Kobe, Ariza, ODOM, and Pau were in to close the game right? Since Walton can do everything Odom can and Bynum is a starter. ALL your logic is flawed.

  • Z Posted: Sep.17 at 12:30 pm
    wow ppl are really drinking the kool aid, uh? mvp of the lakers!? yeah they might not have won some games in the finalls without him but they don’t GET to the finals without pau and they may not even get to the postseason in a tough western conf without kobe. get real people. / the reason why he’s the lakers x-factor is because ppl know that kob and pau will bring it every night / he has no glaring weaknesses but he’s not great at anything either except rebounding. the numbers are not misleading, that’s his production. he was doing the same thing with the clips when he was the 1st option. he’s not a 20+ ppg guy, that’s just the reality of it. / don’t give me that ”when he’s ready to ball” BS. people aren’t trying to miss shots and play poorly. lamar is who he is. and that’s not a top tier forward. nobody’s trying to throw max money at him.

  • kobesbestfriend Posted: Sep.17 at 12:39 pm
    i never said luke was good just that he can do what odom does plus that he knows the triangle very well…he sucks at D but so does LO…thats y they ride the pine…bynum sucks too and is overrated so of course zen master plays odom over him in the crunch time!!!and when does lo ever cause matchup problems 4 other teams???any1 can score when they r left open cuz mamba is on the team!!!

  • JE Posted: Sep.17 at 12:41 pm
    With Artest and Odom on the same team, it makes no sense to me that Odom is higher on this list. If Odom hadn’t re-signed this season, the Lakers would be at risk of losing chemistry, but still favored by many to repeat. If the Lakers hadn’t signed Artest after losing Ariza, the Lakers would be less of a team than they were in 2008. And “a cross between Magic, Worthy and AC Green”? What the hell?

  • Klav Posted: Sep.17 at 12:54 pm
    The reason Odom is even on the floor is because he spreads the floor. He is able to hit the midrange j, he can hit the trey sometimes, he can drive, and he can get offensive boards like a beast. Ariza can’t nearly do as much Odom, and he’s not very polished and he’ll probably never be. As far as matchups go, Odom is really a 3, he only plays the 4 because he’s so damn big. Luke knows the triangle, sure, but it doesn’t explain why he makes bad decisions IN THE TRIANGLE. How many times does he just stand there, or has a wide open shot and forces a pass? And the reason Odom is in with Pau in late game is because 2 post players would only crowd the paint for both of them. Use basketball knowledge before all you say is “they suck, overrated”. And lastly, I guess you know NOTHING about the triangle, because thats exactly what its supposed to do, CREATE MATCHUP PROBLEMS FOR EASY BUCKETS. Walton knows it well, but does he do anything for the team offensively? NO.

  • seven Deuce Posted: Sep.17 at 12:55 pm
    If only Lamar had been given a chance to ball out. His only real freedom was when he was in his first few years on the Clippers. Imagine if Houston had somehow signed him instead of Ariza!

  • Niya-girl-fresh Posted: Sep.17 at 12:55 pm
    Lamar is a decent player but #33? If he was still a Miami Heat player I bet you bottom dollar he wouldn’t be on this list, and this coming from a Lamar fan. Coming to L.A. playing with Kobe (yep I said it) made him up his game. He had no choice he was on a championship calliber team with a coach who seeks consistency almost all the time. How is he ahead of Allen Iverson? He can give you 20 and 10 on a given night that I can give to him, but often he’s very inconsistent. He shows up one game and is M.I.A. the next, that made me so upset last season in playoffs as a Lakers fan. I’m not saying he is a solid player (when he wants to be), but come on now frat, #33 out of 50, already? Still a fan of his though lol.

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.17 at 1:02 pm
    @ z: Exactly, that’s what i’m saying. People know what they’re gonna get out of kobe and pau every night. If lamar plays like he played game 5 vs. the magic every night, there’s no way that team can be beat. He never even deserved to sit out for that sorry bynum in the 1st place. He wasn’t exactly option 1 in Lac either. Brand, darius and q were all on that team as well. He played 2nd fiddle in miami and now he’s playing 3rd or 4th in la. Maybe he’s just comfortable not being the main guy and not like he has a choice in the matter playing behind wade and kob and brand. I know he’s better than brand but the clips had everything go through elton. And he’s not just good at everything and great at nothing. He’s got the passing skills of kukoc, excellent rebounder, good shooter, great at creating for himself and teammates and way above average handles. You talk about him like he’s as mediocre as rony turiaf. This guy is better than marion, rashard and the like. He could have averaged 20 ppg a night if the coach told him he had to. Don’t get it twisted thinking he’s not capable. Just circumstances is all.

  • Hisham Posted: Sep.17 at 1:04 pm
    I don’t disagree with this ranking. just wanted to point out the total awesomeness of the picture link to this article. that’s on some comic book ish.

  • Brad Long Posted: Sep.17 at 1:16 pm
    I’m starting to doubt that kobesbestfriend is, in fact, Kobe’s best friend. You’d assume he’d understand how crucial Lamar is to his homeboys success.

  • UnRel Posted: Sep.17 at 1:19 pm
    when people say.. ‘when he wants to play he can be the X best player in the L’… you can say that about everybody that suits up.. bottom line.. Lamar’s got great skills.. can do just about everything on the coart.. HOWEVER.. doesn’t have the mentality to do so.. therefore.. he will never be a top 3 F/PF.. and saying he doesn’t know the triangle doesn’t know how the triangle works.. his work in the tri is great.. just like pippens.. his numbers don’t reflect how well he works the tri..

  • UnRel Posted: Sep.17 at 1:23 pm
    i meant ‘court’..

  • J-City Posted: Sep.17 at 1:32 pm
    Remember that article that said the reason for Lamar’s up and down play was due to his obsession of candy? Lol the candyman indeed. This is a good spot for him, he’s inconsistant but playing for a championship team, sacrifices have to be made. Look at his numbers from Miami when he was a starter and playing big minutes and I’m surprised how he’s never made an all-star team. I honestly also feel he’s better suited playing sf and is creates ridiculous mismatch problems and has the handles and defensive ability to do so, but obviously that’s Ron’s spot. Btw, that dunk on the birdman last playoffs was nasty.

  • Klav Posted: Sep.17 at 1:32 pm
    co-sign Brad.

  • B e n n i e Posted: Sep.17 at 1:40 pm
    he finished the playoffs strong. i think hell continue the season that wat cus he wants to get that feeling of winning it all again! LO might be a future laker legend..

  • B e n n i e Posted: Sep.17 at 1:41 pm
    i meant way not wat haha.

  • kobesbestfriend Posted: Sep.17 at 1:45 pm
    what is lamar odom’s career high???like 30???he is a mediocre player at best…def not top 50!!!case closed!!!and the birdman blocked him like 8 times b4 he dunked on him…if he wasnt lefthanded i wouldnt like him at all!!!

  • cb 34 Posted: Sep.17 at 1:49 pm
    @kosesbestfriend: Stay off the crack!

  • Klav Posted: Sep.17 at 1:55 pm
    kobesbestfriend, now you’re just throwing BS out there. Birdman blocks EVERYBODY. He was 2nd in the L for blocked shots behind Dwight, with NOWHERE near as many minutes. If he got extended time he would’ve easily been the blocks leader for the season. And you come back with an argument about a career high? Weak argument, horrible justification. Your comments aren’t taken seriously as of…Yesterday.

  • JL Posted: Sep.17 at 2:00 pm
    This is a good spot. He brings alot of versatility and defense and rebounding to this team. As long as he stays away from 3′s and long jumpers (unless he’s hot), Lakers win. He’s defnitely #3 last year on the lakers, this year… I think he’s tied with Ron Artest for #3a and #3b. He’s got way more game than Lamarcus A. 9 rebounds per game for a career is nothing to sneeze at!

  • onlyclipfanonslam Posted: Sep.17 at 2:11 pm
    LO more important this upcoming season than Ray Ray? I don’t know about that, this isn’t the double stuff league

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.17 at 2:20 pm
    Lamar is one of those dudes where the numbers don’t tell the story and if you’re basing his career on is stats you’re making a big mistake.

  • UnRel Posted: Sep.17 at 2:20 pm
    i really don’t care about placement until we get to the top 20.. any one of the guys that have already been mentioned can switch spots but are far from top 20.. i’m just glad there hasn’t been a player that should not be on the list at all..

  • Allenp Posted: Sep.17 at 3:11 pm
    So, I guess I was the only one who thought that sentence was strange.

  • Odomrated Posted: Sep.17 at 3:21 pm
    OMG, Odom is THE most overrated player in the NBA today. I can’t believe he is this high. Odom rarely ever shows up for a game, is an absolutely horrible defender, and shooter as well. Ok, the dude can rebound from time to time, but other than that he is mediocre at everything else. And if I hear his name in the same sentence as Magic’s one more time I don’t know what I will do. It’s absolute blaspheme for any sports writer to do this, yet I hear it time and time again. My god, Slam do you watch basketball?

  • Odomrated Posted: Sep.17 at 3:28 pm
    LMFAO, LMFAO, LMFAO!!! I just glanced at the players Odom is ahead of and holy crap! Are you kidding me SLAM? “Definitive” rankings? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I would take every other player listed below Odom before I would take him other than maybe Ray Ray and Kidd since they are both ancient. But even so, Jesus puts Odom to shame in terms of actually showing up for big playoff games, he is hitting game winners from behind the arc time after time while Odom is riding pine and making the feature story on E:60 for his candy addictions. Come on, GET REAL SLAM!!!

  • ryan Posted: Sep.17 at 3:29 pm
    hey ken b4 u start calling out lamar’s faults, make sure u know what college lamar played at…its rhode island not providence

  • Kadavour Posted: Sep.17 at 3:32 pm
    he has the 5th most career triple double of active players today.

  • KR Posted: Sep.17 at 3:38 pm
    “Roney seal Harrington beautifully I ain’t gotta…My-my-my big fella the Pau’s out…and uh…I just gotta…ya’know…step up and make plays. You know this year it’s not like a been a shot making year for me. So I’m just tryna focus and help my team win ball games…” - Lamar Odom (Great writeup btw)

  • Jacob J Posted: Sep.17 at 3:45 pm
    THERE IS NO WAY AT ALL LAMAR SHOULD BE THIS HIGH!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jacob J Posted: Sep.17 at 3:45 pm
    THERE IS NO WAY AT ALL LAMAR SHOULD BE THIS HIGH!!!!!!!!!!

  • Dfrance Posted: Sep.17 at 4:01 pm
    @Latin I think Abdul knows Providence is in the state of Rhode Island, he was pointing out the fact that LO went to the school Rhode Island and not Providence like Ken commented.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.17 at 5:05 pm
    Might as well put the Polish Hammer on here, too. Hey, why not Big Baby Davis while we’re at it? Talent is one thing, another is ACTUAL output. The Lakers won last year because of Kobe and Pau, and their X-Factor most nights was Trevor Ariza. Lamar Odom isn’t top 50 if Ariza isn’t. Lamar Odom isn’t top 33 if Ron Artest isn’t 30.
    Just stop the lists already. This is the equivalent of putting Robert Horry and Derrick Fisher in the top 50 all time lists. You didn’t there, so why the heck is Odom 33 now.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.17 at 5:08 pm
    It seems to me like Lamar Odom is the biggest MacGuffin in the league. Every analyst cares that they have him, it intimidates the other team’s scouts because of his “versatility,” but in the end it doesn’t matter what the hell he actually does in the game, because the Lakers win with him on the bench ANYWAYS. He’s like the fall back if Ron Artest, Pau Gasol, and Kobe Bryant are all shooting bricks. And even then it isn’t guaranteed he’ll show up.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.17 at 5:17 pm
    The write-ups have been really good.
    I find it funny though, that SLAM felt they had to explain it and convince us on Turkoglu making the list (which was pretty much a no brainer), but then felt like it was granted/expected Odom would make the list at 33 (which shouldn’t have happened).

  • I really like Lamar for his complete game and his character. This is a nice place for him though he could be a little higher. For example the idea that there is a serious possibility that we are going to have track&field athletes(Igouodala,R.Jeferson,etc) over a true basketball player like Lamar is ridiculous.

  • frank castle Posted: Sep.17 at 7:03 pm
    wheres gerald wallace or shard lewis on the list

  • onlyclipfanonslam Posted: Sep.17 at 7:16 pm
    Character…. really? ARE YOU FOR REAL? People must hate the Clippers that much, for what, I don’t know it’s not like we knocked your team from the playoffs. The Clippers stood by LO when he had a bunch of trouble with mary jane and all that stuff. He had a couple of injury riddled seasons, and we still stuck with him. Then he leaves us after his most uninspiring, lackluster, questionable work ethic year. I don’t care that he left, when he was a RFA he begged us not to match the Heat’s offer. You can say the guy is a good player, but the guy is a douche always had always will.

  • Orlando Green Posted: Sep.17 at 7:22 pm
    I thought yall woulda snubbed LO, but good job! Wow! Lakers have 4 in the top 50! Any other team have four? Spurs i guess (TD, RJ, TP, MG)

  • chiqo Posted: Sep.17 at 7:43 pm
    i’m gonna go out on a limb and say no to that spurs part.

  • tealish Posted: Sep.17 at 7:51 pm
    Z’s got it pegged.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.17 at 8:05 pm
    Andre Iguodala is going to be too high on this list. Way too high. Unless he is next.
    Is he next?

  • Moose Posted: Sep.17 at 8:32 pm
    No, Teddy.

  • ben hunter Posted: Sep.17 at 8:47 pm
    you would think after all these years odom would have figured out how to do something consistently……….im mean hes good but……..over turkoglu? iverson?

  • Enigmatic Posted: Sep.17 at 9:25 pm
    Well, he’s OK. But he’s no Magic. Then again, who would ever think that?….oh, wait….

  • tealish Posted: Sep.17 at 9:28 pm
    @Moose: Well, he should be next.

  • Solon Posted: Sep.18 at 12:46 am
    Too High. Shoulda been around 40 i think.
    Spurs only have 3 though-Manu doesn’t make it this year. Too injured.

  • skywalker Posted: Sep.18 at 3:12 am
    LO is favorite player, but why is he bangin’ the tranny looking kardashian sister?

  • skywalker Posted: Sep.18 at 3:13 am
    LO is favorite player, but why is he bangin’ the tranny looking kardashian sister?

  • MC Pats Posted: Sep.18 at 3:52 am
    LO is doing as Phil Jackson is telling him. Find the the open man, create in the triangle, make the easy basket, create matchup problems. At least hes doing what hes told.

  • Blinguo Posted: Sep.18 at 4:12 am
    Because they both like sugar & calories, who knows? kobe’s friend might benefit from a “TRADE HIM (BACK) FOR SHAQ!” Or mention who he’d like instead of “Not Pippen so he sucks ODOMIZED!” but he only knows of Laker players.
    -
    New rules in every write up, going back on other rules. Adding to judging rules. Should have just went with top 50 MVP candidates? So nobody can really complain outside the top 10? or more like 5. Realistically, 3.
    -
    Danny Batman G, 30-25.
    ShaqWheel of Fortune, 25-19.
    Since you don’t know if you’re getting the ShaqReal Deal, or ShaqMeals on Wheels.

  • Blinguo Posted: Sep.18 at 4:15 am
    Money Monta, soon or not at all. Iguodala/G Wallace, I dunno.

  • Furious Posted: Sep.18 at 4:24 am
    @ solon: Manu won’t make it cos “too injured”, then what is Arenas doing on the list?

  • COLT6 Posted: Sep.18 at 5:42 am
    I’m gettin tired of Sofo and his dimwitted comments. You for real? First you disrespect Allen Iverson by sayin he cannot ball anymore. Now you are tellin me that Odom deserves higher than #33? Iggy Hops and RJ are just for track & field? F#ckouttahere! Clearly your logic is as dull as your game outside the Greek National team. Think before you type next time, okay?

  • @COLT6….:okay.

  • Harlem Posted: Sep.18 at 5:53 am
    i dont get the LO hate,the guy gets the job done….sure he goes m.i.a at times but hes unselfish and plays hard,he never complains about anything,he just plays ball and hes one of the realist guys in the n.b.a,very down to earth……i guess u guy would rather have a ballhogin,selfish diva then a humble ballplayer

  • Harlem Posted: Sep.18 at 5:56 am
    AND WHERES NATE ON THIS LIST………….(waiting 4 the hate)

  • @COLT6….:one correction, i have NEVER said that A.I. cannot ball ‘anymore’.I have repeatedly said that he has never been an actual bball player in his whole life. There is a big difference ot this. Isaiah Thomas cannot ball anymore but he used to be a really real bball player.You dIDn’t have to see him play in the world championship to figure this out…same for A.I. those who know didn’t need to see him in the Olympics or in Denver and Detroit. Those situations only helped for the kids to wake-up a little bit….

  • @Harlem…:Nate Archibald? He is retired since mid 80′s but if cartoon’s can make the list,then…you never know!!!

  • rikson Posted: Sep.18 at 11:38 am
    The strongest part of odoms game, is that he is one of the last real allrounders. Thats why hes creating all kinds of problems for the enemy. And thats something that wont be shown through stats…. “First you disrespect Allen Iverson by sayin he cannot ball anymore.” Are you allen – no?! Then get get fu(k outta here! Disrespect??? But there is some truth in Sofoklis words: AI has never been a real basketballer, hes more of a streetballer. You can see that in his moves and even more in his mentality… He was never really able to function in a system of 5 players. Hell, he only was succesfull when surrounded by defensive orientated players, cause he needs totaly freddom to work on an NBA court! Plzs Iggy = track and field – I love that metaphor *lol* Im not with you regarding jefferson, as hes got a really nice J….

  • Teddy-the-Bera Posted: Sep.18 at 1:31 pm
    LOL AI has never been a real basketballer. That really is the icing on the cake for the comments I’ve read by rikson and Sofo.

  • Shem Posted: Sep.18 at 6:11 pm
    Lamar Odom is not going to produce more then gilbert or allen or turk but to his team he is more valuable… i might say gil is a lil more valuable seeing how the wizards had awful seasons without him but still good spot for the candyman

  • Jamal Posted: Oct.6 at 6:33 pm
    I do not like Odom’s game at all. He is soft cannot play post d like varejao. Not even close to a better playmaker than biby. Your killing Bibby’s Image here. Odom 33 I dont think so. Odom 50 that seems more right.

  • josh Posted: Oct.10 at 7:15 am
    Lamar is not a top 50 player. period. that is just ridiculous.

  • Eric Posted: Jun.10 at 8:18 pm
    Lamar is so versatile, its amazing that so many of you guys trash him. 14.5ppg 9rpg and 4apg to go with a block and a steal a agme for his career. he does it all. I say this spot is perfect.If you trash lamar odom, then trash josh smith. theya re the same player cept lamar can shoot way better and smith gets more blocks n steals.

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