Twenty-one years ago today, one of the most beloved Clippers took the floor for the first time in a Clipper uniform. It was the franchise’s first game at Staples Center, and it was the debut of the no. 4 draft pick: a smooth, do-everything 19-year-old forward named Lamar Odom.
Odom put up a stat line in his first game of 30 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. No rookie has ever matched that output in his debut, not before and not since. From the moment he first suited up in an NBA game, it was clear that Odom had tremendous skill, and he had a knack for making the spectacular look simple.