It’s been an up-and-down week for Lakers forward Lamar Odom who was both rewarded and questioned by the media. Odom won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award Tuesday and was able to celebrate by reading a column questioning him. Bill Plaschke of the LA Times wrote about Lamar’s reality TV show Khloe & Lamar, said it portrayed Odom as soft, and wondered if it was making Lamar play poorly. Keep in mind this is the same show Lamar wanted to quit after three days because it was too much for him.
Some of the criticism from Plaschke included calling the show a “cheesy series” and labeling Khloe Kardashian a “D-League celebrity.” Then Plaschke talked about Lamar getting pushed around on the show by the Kardashian women. He wrote “I’m wondering how Odom can watch or hear about himself portrayed in this manner, then go out and easily become the aggressor on the basketball court.” He says the show makes Odom look soft and he argues that its release should have been delayed until after the postseason. It was a powerful column with a lot of strong criticisms and it was poorly received by Odom.
Before Game 2 for the Lakers against the Hornets, Odom was “feeling down” according to OC Register reporter Kevin Ding. Ding also quoted Odom as saying the column crossed the line.” Odom took the criticism personally and said “If we were in a bar …”
I’ll question Lamar’s decision to commit himself to a reality TV show during the season because of the time and effort it requires, but I wouldn’t say the show has made him soft. Odom is who he is — a mellow guy who is frequently pushed around on the court. It’s always been that way and a reality TV show hasn’t taught us anything we never knew. I’m guessing Plaschke’s going to be regretting this one when the Lakers reach another Finals, though I’m sure he’ll say he was just motivating the team.
