Brown always admired the way Odom played

DALLAS -- SMU coach Larry Brown is a big-time Lamar Odom fan.

So big that he didn’t mind recalling the time when Odom was perhaps the best player on a U.S. Olympic qualifying team Brown coached.

"I’ve always admired the way he played because he made everybody better," said Brown, who attended the Dallas Mavericks’ shootaround on Friday. "He had no position, but he was just a great teammate.

"We had him on the qualifying team, and then when that thing blew up with 911 and none of the players would go and we had to pick a new team, he was an unbelievable teammate and mentor for the young kids."

Odom is currently in a Las Vegas hospital fighting for his life after he was found earlier this week unconscious at a brothel. Brown said he can’t imagine what Odom is going through.

"You don’t really realize you better live every day like it’s the best day of your life,’’ Brown said. "I tell all our kids you can be the greatest player going and you’ve got to make sure you do all the right things, because it can end just like that.’’

Brown should know.

"It’s been a bad year,’’ Brown said. "I think about all the people we’ve lost.

"I was at the Hall of Fame ceremonies and gave Moses (Malone) a hug, and the next day he passes away. Coach (Dean) Smith, coach (Bill) Guthridge, and I coached Darryl (Dawkins).’’

Smith passed away on Feb. 7, Guthridge died on May 12, Dawkins passed away on Aug. 27, and Malone died on Sept. 13.

Odom played for the Mavs during the 2011-’12 season. But it was one of the worst seasons of his 14-year career.

Still, Brown said that pales in comparison to what Odom means to him and the contributions he made to the Olympic qualifying team.

"The things that I value as a coach, Lamar Odom, he was that kind of player,’’ Brown said. "He was kind of bad here (with the Mavs), because, I don’t know, there was so much going on in his life.

"But if I was ever starting a team, he’d be on my team, especially the way the game’s being played now. Everybody is playing with maybe one true center and four other interchangeable parts, and he just makes people better.’’

Dwain Price can be heard every Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. on dfwiradio.com.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 9:38 PM with the headline "Brown always admired the way Odom played."