Lamar Odom, who left the Dallas Mavericks before their Feb. 22 game against the Lakers and did not return until Saturday, apologized to his teammates for his 10-day absence, but did not give a reason for missing four games in a row.
While reports have said he left the team before the All-Star break to be with his ill father, Odom told reporters on Saturday, “It was really personal and it was something I had to tend to. Mark Cuban's a great owner for understanding. There are times when we have to fix what is going on off the basketball court in order to fix what's going on on the court.”
Cuban may have been understanding, but others within the organization—including coach Rick Carlisle and point guard Jason Kidd—were getting frustrated.
Kidd on Friday said that Odom will have to regain his teammates' trust, and Carlisle said the same day on ESPN Radio, "When he comes back, we're going to find out very quickly where things are at. He's going to have to show us with his actions and attitude that he's in."
Odom was supposed to play in a D-League game on Saturday, but was called up to Dallas because reserve center Brandan Wright could not play because of a concussion. Odom went on to post nine points, five rebounds and three assists over 18 minutes against the Utah Jazz.
"It felt good to be back, playing basketball, doing what I'm so blessed to have done for so long," Odom said after the game. "I just told (teammates) to stick with me, and that at this point in time in my life I need them,"
"This is by far the most energy he's played with the entire year and I don't think it's close," Carlisle said. "And I would defy anybody to go against that statement. It's just clear we need this from him every night. If he can bring this, if he can bring that kind of energy and engagement, it's going to lift our team to a different level."
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