<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who started on the United States team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, learned this week that he was not invited to take part in USA Basketball's training camp this summer. Odom met with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo in Phoenix on Jan. 20. He said he learned the news through a letter sent to his agent, Jeff Schwartz. The 25 invited players are scheduled to be announced Sunday. "It was their decision," Odom said. "Of course, I would like to (play). If not, more time with the kids." Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson, another member of the 2004 team, also was not invited to the training camp. Kobe Bryant was the first player to commit to play for USA Basketball at this summer's world championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Odom was praised for his play in Athens, in particular when he took the court for one game against Greece despite staying up all night with a stomach virus. He said there were "no hard feelings" with not being selected. "For me, I'm always happy that my players don't have to go and play in it," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "First of all, I think it's a lot of work. It's extra basketball. I think it takes the life away from the franchise, for a player that you've invested a lot of money in. So I'm not disappointed from my own personal standpoint. "From his standpoint, I think he liked playing in it. I think he was proud of being a member of that. I think it was something that helped him grow as a basketball player. So I'm disappointed he didn't get the opportunity." </div> Source Nor does he deserve one.
I just want to say that Odom was one of the few players that actually seemed to be doing a decent job in the last Olympic games. I thought that he would turn out to be a good all around player from his performances, but I guess playing beside TD may have helped a little.
like phil said, its probably better for him. in the off season, he can work out more, improve his game, and hopefully get a better understanding of the triangle
No i don't think so. Now i will give it to him he is getting better i'll give him another 2 years before he gets one if he keeps playing like he do now.
Please close or change this thread because Lamar Odom has received an invitation to try out for the U.S basketball team. Thanx to kobe. Jim Jackson will be signed as early tuesday. They're also looking at Penny Hardaway...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND — Lamar Odom will be invited to try out for the U.S. basketball team, after all. One of the top players in the Athens Olympics, Odom did not make the original 22-player list finalized internally by USA Basketball last week, but he will fill one of the spots created by players who declined invitations. Roster space opened when Milwaukee guard Michael Redd and Seattle forward Rashard Lewis declined to accept the lengthy commitment, which begins in July with a training camp in Las Vegas. Redd is getting married in August and Lewis reportedly will use the summer to heal a series of nagging injuries. "I'm happy to wear the uniform again," said Odom, who was disappointed when not initially selected. "Because we lost the way we lost, being able to go back is a big deal." Mindful of the third-place finish by the U.S. in the 2004 Olympics, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo made it clear that players needed to begin committing to the cause well before 2008. In addition to the July training camp, the U.S. has games in Japan and South Korea before competing in the world championship in August in Japan. Odom was one of three U.S. players to score in double figures in all three medal-round games in Athens. He is averaging 13.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Lakers.</div> Roster Openings Lead to U.S. Tryout for Odom
It makes sense that they would want Odom on the team. He's a passive scorer if a scorer at all and thrives at dishing it off and creating matchup problems. We already have plenty of scorers, so getting a lengthy distributer on our side is much better than adding another shooter.
I know people have said he didn't deserve it, but from what I understand, he was one of the top two players performing in the olympics. For that, he deserves his place. At least we know he takes representing his country seriously, unlike most of the players in Athens.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting trenchteam:</div><div class="quote_post">What about Allan Iverson!!!!</div> He'll be 33 when the Olympics come around. At the age of 33, I doubt Allen will be as fast as he is. Speed is one of the main points of his game, which makes up for his height, Without speed, he'll be a regular guard. Another factor adding to this is the fact that there will be better guards at that time such as a most likely established Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul. That's without Kobe Bryant and players like LeBron who could also play in the guard postions. ------------------------------------------------------------ <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The U.S. National Basketball team will be announced officially on Sunday, but by now you've probably heard: Allen Iverson and Lamar Odom didn't make the squad. Although AI's supporters will jump to his defense vigorously, it was a good move by Jerry Colangelo to leave him off the team. There's only one thing worse than a 6-foot "point guard" who dominates the ball, shoots around 40 percent and takes 30 percent of his team's shots, and it's a 33-year-old who does all of these things. That's how old Iverson will be by the time the summer of 2008 rolls around. It's the decision to leave Odom off of the team that confuses me. Not so much because I think Odom is a must-have in international competition, but because of some of the guys reportedly selected in front of him. Bruce Bowen? Shane Battier? Antawn Jamison? I know that numbers don't tell the whole story, and Bowen and Battier are great defenders and great "team guys," but Odom has gotten consistently high marks for his attitude and basketball IQ. His game is more complete than Jamison's. Plus, he would be a great frontcourt passer, and good frontcourt passing is at a premium in international play. Kind of makes you wonder: Did Kobe ask Colangelo to leave Odom off the team, knowing that their partnership on the Lakers hasn't worked out? Another thing that jumps out while looking at this prospective roster is the lack of a dominant center. Shaq, who will be 36 in 2008 and could weigh in at nearly 400 near-middle-age pounds by then, has said he does not want to play. Ditto Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace. Marcus Camby wasn't invited, and would probably develop a career-threatening hangnail between now and then even if he had been. And Zydrunas Ilgauskas is, well, Lithuanian. Which leaves Brad Miller manning the pivot. I am huge fan of the barb-wire-tattooed big man from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and his smooth passing game belies his meat-and-potatoes look. But unlike the Diesel, he's not the kind of guy who strikes fear in the hearts of opposing teams, and his career year, in which he scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds per game, doesn't exactly scream "superstar". The national squad will be jam-packed with talented fours -- among those reportedly on the 25-man roster are Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Elton Brand and Amare Stoudemire -- but it would be a shame to see all of them go to waste without a true five. Let's hope that one of these guys steps up and develops Shaq-esque low-post skills while playing out of position. </div> Source
