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Miami Heat: Top 10 greatest single-game performances in history

By Michael Shofner

INDIANAPOLIS, IND - MAY 20: LeBron James #6 and Dwyane Wade #30 of the Miami Heat during the game against the Indiana Pacers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 20, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2014 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IND - MAY 20: LeBron James #6 and Dwyane Wade #30 of the Miami Heat during the game against the Indiana Pacers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 20, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: 2014 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 13: Lamar Odom #7 of the Miami Heat goes up for a layup over Vlade Divac #21 of the Sacramento Kings during the game at Arco Arena on January 13, 2004 in Sacramento, California. The Kings won 90-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom;Vlade Divac
SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 13: Lamar Odom #7 of the Miami Heat goes up for a layup over Vlade Divac #21 of the Sacramento Kings during the game at Arco Arena on January 13, 2004 in Sacramento, California. The Kings won 90-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom;Vlade Divac /

No.8: Lamar Odom

March 6, 2004 vs. Sacramento Kings

30 points (11-18), 19 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Lamar Odom signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent and was brought in to help guide the newly drafted prospects, Wade and Caron Butler. Odom had quite a productive season and filled the team’s power forward position well.

After losing the first seven games of the season, the Heat played a strong rest of the season and even managed to make it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the fourth seed.

On March 6, 2004, Miami squared up against a talented Sacramento Kings team that was 45-16 at the time. Odom both outscored and outrebounded his power forward counterpart Chris Webber (22 points and nine rebounds) to end the game with a beautiful triple-double.

Odom’s performance was impressive, scoring 30 points while also nabbing a hefty 19 rebounds, but it was his 11 assists that spoke volumes about his role on the team, positioning the Heat’s young talent to improve.

Overall, his unselfish play greatly helped Wade have a rock-solid rookie campaign that landed him on the 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team.

Miami was only 27-36 after the victory against the Kings, but Odom’s play and veteran leadership sparked a 15-4 run to close out the season that stemmed a playoff birth.

Sadly it was Odom’s lone season in South Beach, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a package with Butler and Brian Grant in exchange for O’Neal.

The Heat would later win the NBA Championship two seasons later, with Wade at the helm.

Years later, after winning the NBA Championship in 2009 as a member of the Lakers, Odom became a free agent.  Wade and Pat Riley heavily courted Odom to try and recruit him back to his former team but he opted to re-sign with Los Angeles where he won a second title the following year.

Odom has not appeared in the NBA since 2013, but he recently announced that he will continue his basketball career next season in China.

Maybe he will be reunited with his protege after all…

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