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Two-time champion Lamar Odom is rooting against the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals, as he doesn’t want to see Celtics legend Paul Pierce celebrate.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the former Los Angeles Laker said that Pierce enjoying a potential title would make him “sick.”
“I know Paul Pierce is happy and it kind of makes me sick to see him gloat and be that happy because that team is about to win,” Odom said.
NBACentral @TheDunkCentral
Lamar Odom says that the Boston Celtics winning another championship makes him “sick” because he doesn’t want to see Paul Pierce happy
“I know Paul Pierce is happy and it kind of makes me sick to see him gloat and be that happy because that team is about to win,”
(Via @mcten /… pic.twitter.com/nElVWsSqB1
The two former players were part of a fierce rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics, with both teams facing off for a championship in 2008 and 2010. Boston emerged victorious in 2008, while Los Angeles captured a title in 2010.
Pierce was the Celtics’ leading scorer during the 2007-08 regular season, spearheading the team’s offense alongside Hall of Fame teammates Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
Odom thrived off the bench for the Lakers, winning Sixth Man of the Year in 2011. In Los Angeles’ seven-game series victory over Boston in 2010, he averaged 7.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a reserve (via Basketball Reference).
While Odom wouldn’t be happy to see Pierce celebrate another Celtics title, there doesn’t appear to be any animosity between the two. In fact, he complimented Boston’s accomplishment in 2008.
“They were the best team that year [in 2008]. I tip my hat to ’em, even this year, but it kind of makes me sick,” he said, per McMenamin.
There are lots of reasons for Pierce to celebrate, as the Celtics currently hold a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks. Boston will attempt to clinch a championship in Game 4 on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
