PHOENIX -- The Lakers haven't exactly been playing like the two-time defending champs lately. The team has won just three of its last seven games, and the last win against a team that was any good came all the way back on Nov. 23, at home against the Chicago Bulls. The last thing that L.A. would appear to need is another distraction. Lamar Odom's new deal to appear in a reality television show with his wife Khloe Kardashian would appear to be a prime candidate, especially since filming is expected to commence in "early 2011" -- presumably right in the middle of the Lakers season. But neither Odom nor Lakers head coach Phil Jackson seems to believe that will be the case.
"Lamar usually doesn't get distracted by things that are outside (basketball)," Jackson said, before his Lakers faced the Suns on Wednesday. "I know the Kardashians will be very careful with what they do."
Odom spoke extensively on the subject before the game as well, and said that he'd had a discussion about the endeavor with Jackson and Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. But ultimately, the decision was his.
"That's between us," Odom said, when asked for the details of what the team and he discussed. "I respect their opinions and what they have to say and how they feel; I should. But at the end of the day, we always talk about how this is life and we have decisions to make. The Lakers make decisions that they need to make, and Lamar does the same, and (everyone here) does. This is the life that we live, this is entertainment. Whether it's sports, reporting ... we're all in the industry, somehow some way."
Jackson seemed to agree and mentioned that in terms of players marketing themselves, the team really doesn't have much to say about it.
"Outside of those hours that we have (together), the time's theirs," Jackson said. "Our restrictions don't include whether they have another workout or activity, whether they have a trainer off-site -- these are things we're still dealing with in the NBA, what physical outside distractions they might have. But their career and possible extraneous things that could happen, then you'd say they can't do ads, they can't do commercials -- so where's it end?"
It might be tempting for the team to end things if Odom were to go into a prolonged slump, or if he appeared to become more focused with his television career than his basketball one. But Odom knows people will be placing extra scrutiny on his play during that time and said he's using that as a motivating factor.
"Of course," Odom replied, when asked if people will be quick to point to the show as a distraction if he's not playing well. "That's almost like the added incentive a little bit. But if I play bad, we're going to talk about it anyways, so I don't feel any added pressure. I'll make sure I remain sharp and stay in the gym, but basketball is basketball.
"Of course if I don't play well, it'll be easy to take a shot at me, but it's always easy -- if you want to take a shot, you'll take a shot."
Jackson said he hasn't seen any of Odom's appearances on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," his wife Khloe's current reality show. But what about this new version which will more prominently feature one of his players?
"I can hardly wait to watch it," Jackson deadpanned.
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