2-3. Lamar Odom, 2004
The Game: 2004 Olympics in Athens. Opening match against Puerto Rico. Team USA loses 73-92
The Player & The Line: Lamar Odom, 13 points (6-7 FG; 1-1 3FG), 5 rebounds
The Context: And just like that, Team USA’s aura of invincibility was erased. A swathe of decommitments from international play left the Americans with a strangely constructed 2004 team that did feature a few stars like Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson, but also young versions of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony, none of whom garnered huge minutes on this squad.
Lamar Odom (who I admit I’m sort of cheating putting on this list as he was traded for Shaq weeks before the Olympics began. But to be fair, he committed to Team USA as a Heat player), was one of the only bright spots in a languid performance by the Americans, who had no answer for future Heat point guard Carlos Arroyo (24 points, 7 assists).
The Game: 2004 Olympics in Athens. Bronze medal game vs Lithuania. Team USA wins 104-96
The Player & The Line: Lamar Odom, 14 points (5-7 FG; 1-1 3FG, 3-5 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
The Context: Team USA would finish just 5-3 in the 2004 Olympics and after a crushing loss to Argentina that robbed them of any chance at gold, the Americans would have to settle for bronze. USA eked out an 8-point victory against the same Lithuanians that nearly upended the 2000 team’s run and managed to upset the Americans in an earlier contest during this tournament.
Odom, to his credit was a steady performer for much of the 2004 run, and he came up big for the Americans here, putting his famed versatility on display.