Lamar Odom Tells TMZ He Wants to Play in BIG3 to Represent for Rasual Butler
Former NBA player Lamar Odom told TMZ Sports he may play in the BIG3 this summer in honor of Rasual Butler, who died in a car crash in late January.
Per TMZ, "Odom considered Butler... his best NBA friend. He was among the stars who attended his funeral over the weekend."
TMZ also noted that Odom reportedly has spoken to the BIG3 in the past about joining the league and that co-founder Ice Cube would be interested in adding Odom if he's in shape.
Odom, 38, last appeared in the NBA in the 2012-13 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. For his career, he averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He is a two-time NBA champion, both with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was named the 2010-11 Sixth Man of the Year.
Butler played 13 seasons in the league from 2002-16, predominantly with the Miami Heat and the New Orleans Hornets, who became the Oklahoma City Hornets for two of Butler's years with the franchise. He averaged 7.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in his career.
Since his playing days ended, Odom hit tough times, as a drug overdose in 2015 left him in a coma. But his college coach at Rhode Island, Jim Harrick, told TMZ Sports in August that Odom was excited about the prospect of returning in the BIG3, adding, "If he can get in shape, he can play with anybody."
