Every star in the NBA has a moment when they know they are officially playing on another level with some of the best basketball players in the world, as they were either embarrassed by a player or shown what it takes to play in the league.
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom is no different, as he was humbled by not one but two NBA icons when he started his NBA career.
On a recent appearance on the Knuckleheads Podcast with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, Odom was asked which player in the league put him in check for the first time on the NBA level.
The two-time NBA champion didn’t hesitate to name Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, who spent most of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics.
Odom also mentioned Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki via The Players’ Tribune.
“Motherf*cker was so intense.”@LamarOdom credits @KevinGarnett5KG and @swish41 as the first players to bust his ass in the NBA.
You don’t want to miss this one. New #Knuckleheads drops tomorrow. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/L5tV9hpsIJ
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) September 11, 2023
Odom talked about Garnett’s intensity and how it was intimidating when players went up against him on the basketball floor.
Although Garnett had a skinny frame and wasn’t physically imposing like Shaquille O’Neal back then or Joel Embiid in today’s game, the one-time NBA champion was all heart and intensity, and that was enough for him to get an edge on his opponents on top of being one of the most talented forward/centers of all time.
Nowitzki also gave Odom a lot of trouble, and understandably so, as he was one of the first seven-footers who could shoot from anywhere on the floor efficiently while also being able to do some damage in the paint.
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