Lamar Odom Named NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Apr 19 2011 10:42PM

In his best season as a pro, Lamar Odom played all 82 games while averaging 14.4 points on 53 percent shooting with 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 0.74 blocks per game, starting 35 games in the absence of injured center Andrew Bynum. During L.A.'s 17-1 burst out of the All-Star break,  Odom's Sixth Man of the Year candidacy gained steadily  in momentum, with coaches around the league praising the  league's most impactful player coming off the pine. "Everybody in the league that has to play against this guy  knows what Lamar brings to the table," said Suns Coach Alvin Gentry. "I don't think there's anyone out there  that can do that, and defend those  positions and rebound the basketball and has the capability of jumping up  and making a three-point shot. I don't think there's  anybody out there like that." Odom ranked in the Top 10 on the glass before his minutes came down with Bynum's emergence to finish 16th, and came in 11th in the league in field goal percentage. "He's the best back up player in the NBA," added Wolves  assistant J.B. Bickerstaff, in charge of crafting scouting reports.  "You have to come up with so many things  to counter him because he can be in so many different spots.  Glue guys don't get enough  credit as they should, but Odom's definitely  appreciated by coaches  around the league ... he's obviously  the most versatile player coming off the bench." coaches.