Kobe Bryant News: 'The Black Mamba' Talks About Inviting Former Teammate Lamar Odom to Lakers-Heat Game
On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to pull off the unexpected when they defeated the fourth-seeded Miami Heat at home.
Struggling all season long with a record of 16-59, situated all the way down to the number 15 spot in the Western Conference standings, the Purple and Gold team was able to beat Miami with a final score of 102-100 in overtime.
Young gun Jordan Clarkson was the top scorer for the Lakers, as he ended the night with 26 points, and six rebounds. But the most notable moment of the night was the presence of former Laker hotshot Lamar Odom.
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Odom has not been in his best physical shape as of late, as he suffered several strokes and experienced kidney failure late last year. He also fell into a coma in an unnamed Las Vegas hospital after he was found unconscious inside a Las Vegas brothel.
For the said game, it was Bryant who personally extended the invite to his former comrade on the court. After the game, Bryant, Odom and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade all met up as well. Odom was able to play alongside Wade during his stint with the Heat in 2003.
In a report by Ramona Shelburne for ESPN, Bryant is simply happy about Odom being back on his feet, considering that he was in the brink of death just months ago.
"It's a miracle, honestly. In Vegas, he was [on death's doorstep]," Bryant said. "To see him walking around now, like nothing happened. It's really a miracle. It's beyond good to see him."
"It was just like old times," he continued. "We talked before the game, talked after the game and it was great just to talk basketball with him. Talk trash, it was good, it was unbelievable."
Head coach Byron Scott also had the opportunity to speak with Odom, noting that the former player is still "part of their family."
