Billups, Odom 'Old Heads' on Team USA

LAS VEGAS -- No, Chauncey Billups wasn't around for Team USA when it lost to the Soviet Union in the 1972 Olympics. He wasn't a candidate for the Dream Team in 1992.

It just seems to some of the young guys on the current American outfit that the Denver guard has been a fixture for a long, long time.

"Old head,'' Billups said during training camp here Wednesday about what several of the very young players on Team USA call him. "Some of them call me that. That's cool. It's respect, maybe.''

Billups, 33, and Lakers forward Lamar Odom, 30, are, relatively speaking, the fossils in Team USA's training camp here in preparation for the World Championship next month in Turkey. No other player on the 19-man roster is older than 27. There are 11 players 22 or younger.

One is Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook, 21. Westbrook has been getting on Billups for being the veteran in camp.



"I call him O.G.,'' Westbrook said.

So what's that stand for, old guy?

"I can't tell you what it stands for,'' said Westbrook, who acknowledged it's a nod to Billups' veteran status but did not confirm an urban dictionary term of "original gangster.'' "I can tell you it's just O.G.''

That might make Odom "O.G. II.'' But Odom is at least happy that Billups' elder statesman status means he gets more ribbing.

"The same thing, Old Head,'' Odom said of what he is. "We're the older guys on the team. I never thought I would say that in my years in the NBA. But it's here. But we're still around and still kicking. ... Chauncey's a little older than me. But I'm pretty sure (the young players will) make up something (else for him). We got a couple of jokers on our team. Kevin Love and Rudy Gay, they like to joke around.''

There are advantages, though, for Billups and Odom being, literally, the wise guys on the team. Both are all but locks to make the final 12-man roster since USA Basketball officials want some veterans around to help the youngsters.

And it's not as if these guys can't still play. Billups has appeared in the past four All-Star Games and Odom is coming off having played a key role for the Lakers for a second straight title season.

"They give us a lot of leadership,'' said Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski. "The veterans have obviously been through more experiences. Those two guys have leadership qualities. Chauncey at the highest level, and Lamar has it too. I talked to (Odom) about being one of our leaders. I think both of them can do it.''

Billups says it's nothing new for him. He's been looked upon as one of the NBA's most respected team leaders since being named Finals MVP as Detroit won the NBA crown in 2004.

"It's just another day at the office,'' said Billups, who is normally a point guard but also will be getting minutes at shooting guard for Team USA. "I just do what I do. I'm leading in the way that I have led. I teach guys by talking to them during practice, before and after practice, off the court.''

Being one of the primary leaders is newer for Odom. During the three straight trips the Lakers have made to the Finals, their main leaders have been Kobe Bryant, 31, and Derek Fisher, 35.

"Both of us are team guys who understand the team concept and understand camaraderie,'' Odom said of he and Billups. "I talk to (to the young guys on the team). ... Just stay patient as far as the team is concerned. Just stay positive. ... Try to bring everybody up with you. All these guys are going to be put on a pedestal.''

If any of the young guys doubt what Billups and Odom say, all they have to do is look at their fingers. Other than Boston point guard Rajon Rondo, Billups and Odom are the only two players in camp to have won NBA championship rings.

No, Billups didn't also win any with the "Bad Boys'' Pistons teams of 20 years ago and Odom got none with the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. It just seems they've been around that long because most of the players on the team are so young.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson