Mavericks newsMavs news Lamar Odom calls his time with Dallas the worst part of his career.

Mavericks news: After winning back-to-back titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, Lamar Odom was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, a move which would jumpstart his career’s downfall.

Odom recently wrote an article for DMagazine, where he said he never wanted to be with the Mavericks, but he did everything he could to act as a professional during his time with the team.

“I was as professional and cordial as I could possibly be, but I was already planning my escape. I simply did not want to be in Dallas.”

One of the main reasons why Odom wanted the Mavericks to send him elsewhere is because of Mark Cuban, the team’s owner. The former Sixth Man of the Year winner said that he thought of hurting Cuban on multiple occasions because of the way he treated him.

“During one homestand, I was having possibly the worst game of the season. Head coach Rick Carlisle subbed me out, and I looked for a seat near the coaches, but none were available. So I went down to the only open seat at the end of the bench. Right next to Cuban.

Cuban extended his right foot and kicked my shin. … I was stunned. This wasn’t a tap. I felt it.

In an instant I was transported back to Linden Boulevard, where the slightest act of disrespect could be fatal. As I sprang up, Vince Carter, who was sitting next to me, grabbed my arm tightly and leaned in.”

This is something that wasn’t known by the public during Odom’s playing days with the Mavs. Cuban probably felt the lack of motivation in the veteran’s part, which resulted in him treating Odom the way he did.

In the summer of 2011, the Mavs finally decided to let go of Odom, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 39-year-old ex-NBA-er called his time in Dallas the worst part of his career.

“On June 29, the Mavericks dealt me to the Clippers as part of a four-team trade. At the very least, the worst chapter of my basketball life was over. But my downward spiral would only pick up steam. I was about to spin out of control.”

However, Odom wasn’t able to rejuvenate his career, as his personal issues got the best of him. He once tried to end his life through drug overdose. Fortunately, he was saved.

If Odom had just embraced his role with the Mavs, his NBA career would’ve ended differently. Who knows? He may still be in the league up to this point if he just decided to focus on playing basketball and not anything else. Then again, what’s done is done, and all he can do right now is to make sure that he’s always on the right track.

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