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Lamar Odom to D-League For 1 Game

Lamar Odom, Kenneth Faried
Dallas Mavericks’ Lamar Odom, right, drives past Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, in Dallas. Odom scored 14 points as Dallas won 102-84. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
odom
Dallas Mavericks' Lamar Odom, right, drives past Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, in Dallas. Odom scored 14 points as Dallas won 102-84. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

From the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks and finally, the NBA Development League.

The Mavericks said on Friday that Lamar Odom is headed to the D-League for one game so he can get his basketball legs back after a brief stint away from the team.

The former sixth-man award winner will reportedly suit up for the Texas Legends during the D-League team’s home game on Saturday night, though he is expected to rejoin the Mavericks when the team takes on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.

Odom has been absent since Feb. 22, saying he had to tend to a family matter, causing him to miss four straight games after leaving the club. His basketball family is now left wondering if they’re going to get back the Odom who was a productive bench player for the Lakers, or the man who has only averaged 7.7 points per game in 32 games with Dallas.

“When he comes back, we’re going to find out very quickly where things are at,” Carlisle said on the ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM’s “Galloway & Co.” “He’s going to have to show us with his actions and attitude that he’s in.”

It doesn’t help Odom that even the gossip pages are reporting on his demotion to the D-League, which perhaps has a little something to do with his marriage to a Kardashian.

Odom’s numbers are down in mostly every statistical category this year.

He’s averaging 10 less minutes than he did a year ago with the Lakers, and he’s averaging half as many rebounds compared to last season.

“Our fans want to know that Lamar’s in,” Carlisle added on ESPN Radio. “Our players want to know that Lamar’s in. It’s not about how many points he’s scoring or rebounds; those things are a factor. Our fans, our players want to see the guy playing like his pants are on fire and we haven’t seen that so far and that’s got to change.”