Lamar Odom as a Maverick. (Glenn James/GETTY IMAGES)Everything is bigger in Texas, and for Lamar Odom so are his problems. The NBA forward was dropped by reigning champions the Dallas Mavericks on Friday following weeks of skipping games and practices due to "family issues." Even worse for Khloe Kardashian's husband, he has been relegated to the team's developmental league squad, the Texas Legends, which is where sub-par players essentially go to get better. According to ESPN, Odom — who was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2011 — was sent to the D-League "to get his legs back under him" after missing three games.
Odom, 32, initially blamed his estranged father Joe Odom's poor health for why he needed to leave Dallas, but promised to be back after the All-Star break. Still, he didn't report back to the Mavs until two days later on February 29, even though Joe Odom told RadarOnline on February 23 that he was "doing a lot better." While his team was playing the Memphis Grizzlies on February 29, Odom and his agent Jeff Schwartz met with Mavs owner Mark Cuban to discuss the athlete's future in Dallas.
After it was announced that Odom would be playing in the D-League, Schwartz issued a scathing statement claiming it was his client's idea to move to the Texas Legends, despite reports of the opposite. "He proposed it to the Mavs; they never asked him. He wanted to get some floor time in actual game conditions before rejoining the team. People need to educate themselves on the rules in place here. NBA veterans don't get sent to the D-League without their consent."
Khloe Kardashian with her husband. (Denise Truscello/WireImage)
Still, Odom's teammates have voiced their disappointment with the former Lakers star's performance as of late. Since being traded to the Mavs after seven seasons in L.A., Odom's numbers have dropped from 14.4 points a game to just 7.7. "Trust factor is always big," point guard Jason Kidd said, after shootaround on Friday in New Orleans. "For that, he's going to have to earn it with a lot of the guys. But we all give second chances, third chances. For that, we just want him to be him and be comfortable and play." Dirk Nowitzki echoed similar concerns, but offered his support as well. "If [Odom] can play hard every night and be there for us, it'll be OK," he said, according to ESPN. "It'll work out."
Kardashian moved with Odom to Dallas following his shocking trade in December — and she is still sticking by her husband's side. On Friday -- the same day she and sisters Kim and Kourtney were slapped with a $5 million lawsuit by people unhappy with QuickTrim, the weight loss system they endorse -- she tweeted a cryptic message, which could be a jab at the people saying the Mavs forced Odom to the D-League. "If you only knew the truth," she wrote. "Silly little rabbit... You will believe anything... Jokes on YOU."
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