Miles Enjoys Fringe Benefits

A current TV commercial features various NBA players, among them the Clippers’ Darius Miles and Lamar Odom.

“A lot of people like the Nike commercial I did . . . it was fun to make,” said Miles, who at 19 is the youngest player in the league.

“I think that gave me a lot of pub. I like doing commercials like that.”

Since making the jump from high school to the pros last summer, Miles has received plenty of national exposure, and he’s getting used to it.

Miles has already filmed a commercial for next season, featuring his moves in a video game, and he has been contacted about playing a small role in a movie that will start filming later this month.

“All this attention is OK with me,” Miles said. “I’m just living day by day. I am trying to have fun with everything.”

*

The Clippers’ increase to 27 victories from 15 last season represents the most dramatic improvement in the league, but Coach Alvin Gentry says it’s only a start.

“We’re not satisfied with our won-and-lost record,” said Gentry, whose team will leave today for Vancouver to play possibly their last game against the Grizzlies in Canada on Wednesday.

“We may be the most improved team, but we have so much more to improve upon. It’s important to understand that we didn’t think this whole process was going to happen overnight. It gives us something positive to hang our hat on, but we have to continue to build from there.”

*

In less than two seasons, Odom has the Clipper record for triple-doubles with seven. He has had three in his last five games and four this season.

Perhaps most impressive about his recent triple-doubles is that he has dominated games without scoring. He had only 11 points in his triple-double against Cleveland and only 12 against Detroit.

“Me shooting five for 20 is not my game,” Odom said. “Some days it goes like that, but I try and stay away from having those type of games.”