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Ever since news broke that former Los Angeles Lakers power forward Lamar Odom had been found unresponsive and was subsequently hospitalized a dark cloud has been hanging over the team. Kobe Bryant left the Lakers game against the Sacramento Kings early to go visit his friend, as did Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. Metta World Peace, who in addition to playing with Odom on the Lakers 2010 championship winning team has known him since the two were just children growing up in New York said after the Lakers loss "there's not one word right now that I could say that's going to make sense," a feeling most fans of the Lakers share.
Bryant has never been known as someone to be open emotionally to the public, but today he tweeted about Odom after leaving practice without speaking to the media circus awaiting him, one that included cameras and reporters from E! News:
#justpray pic.twitter.com/anLldzod6I
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) October 15, 2015
It's hard to gauge exactly what Bryant is saying here, but his ailing teammate is obviously and understandably affecting him. Some things are more important than basketball, and one could not blame Kobe if most of his thoughts and energy were directed towards Lamar right now.
World Peace did speak to reporters after practice, and shared his support for Lamar and his family during this difficult time:
Metta gave thanks to everyone around the Lakers, esp Kobe & Mitch Kupchak: "This is not really about me. This is about Lamar and his kids."
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) October 15, 2015
Metta: "I've known Lamar since I was 11 years old. We just grew up together...we just want him to do well."
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) October 15, 2015
Metta hasn't been able to visit Lamar but he praised Kobe and Mitch for doing so
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 15, 2015
Metta World Peace said his brother is across the street from the hospital from Lamar Odom. "I just feel like you need some people there."
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) October 15, 2015
Lakers head coach Byron Scott also reiterated the organization's support for one of it's most beloved former players and was understanding of what Lamar's former teammates are going through
Byron Scott says everyone thinking of Lamar Odom "One of my first thoughts when I got here this morning was has anybody heard anything else"
— Bill Oram (@billoram) October 15, 2015
Byron Scott says Odom's condition could impact team but calls basketball court a "safe haven"
— Bill Oram (@billoram) October 15, 2015
Byron Scott's message to Lamar Odom - We love him, come back to us
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) October 15, 2015
Byron conceding that Kobe is taking the news on Lamar pretty hard
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 15, 2015
Byron Scott: "It's hard on (Kobe). He was very close to Lamar, loves him like a brother. It's a rough time for Kobe dealing with that."
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) October 15, 2015
Byron Scott: "I think everyone is thinking about Lamar...Throughout the day, we all think about him."
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) October 15, 2015
Last night Odom's former frontcourt mate, Pau Gasol, had this to say:
Pau Gasol on the Lamar Odom situation: "It breaks my heart."
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) October 15, 2015
Stay tuned to Silver Screen and Roll for more updates on this developing story.