Lamar Odom was RIGHT when he says he can still ball in the NBA ... so says his longtime friend Cuttino Mobley.
Mobley -- who played college ball with Odom at the University of Rhode Island -- says he was hanging out with Lamar earlier this week ... and says he's convinced L.O. still has what it takes.
As we previously reported, Odom says he's determined to get back in the league -- despite the fact he suffered severe health issues and almost died from a drug overdose just 6 months ago.