“Does it bother you that your father is HIV positive?” – Future Lakers legend intentionally BLEW opportunity to play for Bulls after SHOCKING comments from hated GM

Odom's remarkable journey from being passed over by the Chicago Bulls to becoming a key player in the Los Angeles Lakers'.

“Does it bother you that your father is HIV positive?” – Future Lakers legend intentionally BLEW opportunity to play for Bulls after SHOCKING comments from hated GM

Lamar Odom (Credits: People)

In 1999, Lamar Odom‘s draft interview with Jerry Krause took an unexpected turn, bringing forth not just career-related discussions but also a deeply personal revelation about his family. As Odom geared up to embark on his NBA journey, projected to be among the top five draft picks, he never anticipated that a professional interview would expose the harsh truth about his father’s HIV-positive status.

The discussion with Krause, who was the general manager of the Chicago Bulls at the time, left Odom with a profound sense of intrusion into his personal life. Krause possessed personal information acquired through background checks that delved much deeper than Odom had expected. This unexpected unveiling during a professional encounter led Odom to view Krause as a “relentless” individual from his perspective.

YouTube video

During NBA’s premier podcast ‘The Knuckleheads, ’ Odom stated, “I knew I wasn’t going to Chicago because I blew that interview. I acted like a dick. Because Krause, he’s passed away, right? God Bless his soul. He was the first person to tell me that my father was HIV positive. He was like ‘Does it bother you that your father is HIV positive?’“

FS Video

Also Read: Giannis Antetokounmpo puts teams coveting him on notice with stunning ULTIMATUM to Bucks

Draft Day Surprise: Lamar Odom’s Unique Path to NBA Stardom and Championship Success

NBA Twitter trolls Lamar Odom after he tells a story about Kobe
Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom (via NY Post)

The Chicago Bulls ultimately didn’t choose Lamar Odom as their top pick in the 1999 draft. Instead, the New York native was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers as the fourth overall pick. Odom, a two-time champion, confessed that his pre-draft workouts didn’t pose much of a challenge.

He attributed this lack of difficulty to his unique stature as the sole 6’10” point-forward among the top prospects, which meant he didn’t have much competition in that specific role.

Odom subsequently demonstrated his potential while playing for the Clippers and was later traded to the Miami Heat, who eventually exchanged him for Shaquille O’Neal with the Los Angeles Lakers. During his tenure with the Lakers, Odom played a significant role in securing two consecutive championship victories.

In Case You Missed