Odom Acknowledges His Error

At age 21, in only his second season in the NBA, is Lamar Odom mature enough to be the Clippers’ leader?

Based on his behavior Tuesday, maybe not.

Based on his behavior Wednesday, maybe so.

The Clipper forward and team co-captain was pulled from the starting lineup Wednesday and fined an amount believed to be $2,500 for failing to return from an NBA trade show in time for Tuesday’s practice.

But, in accepting full responsibility, he acted far more mature than many other athletes in similar situations. No complaining about the penalties, no annoyance at media questions, no finger pointing anywhere but at himself.

“I was wrong,” Odom said.

How many athletes have ever uttered those words?

“There shouldn’t be any special consideration given me,” Odom said. “I can look anybody in the eye and say that I made a mistake.

“The coach should be disappointed in me. I missed an obligation. Being 21, every day is part of the learning process. I’m a man. I’ve had real hard and trying times in my life. I’m going to get past this. It’s not the end of the season. It’s not the end of the world.”

Odom had flown to Las Vegas after Clipper conditioning drills Monday afternoon to attend the show at the request of the NBA. He said he overslept Tuesday morning, missing his flight, and didn’t return to Los Angeles until 12:30 p.m., around 15 minutes before the end of practice.

It was the second time this season Odom, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, has missed a flight.

Teammate Keyon Dooling, who was also asked to take part in the Las Vegas show, had a reliable enough alarm clock to make his flight home in time for practice.

Coach Alvin Gentry said the Odom case is closed.

For now.

“What he says is irrelevant. The bottom line is his actions,” Gentry said. “We will judge him a month or two from now and see if it happens again. I don’t think it will.

“It’s asking an awful lot of a 21-year-old to be the team leader. But it’s not asking a lot to expect a 21-year-old to show up and be where he’s supposed to be.”

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Trivia time: Seattle SuperSonic Coach Nate McMillan still shares the league’s rookie single-game assist record with Ernie DiGregorio. McMillan handed out 25 assists in a 1987 game against--who else--the Clippers.

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The Clippers close out this homestand with games Saturday against the Sacramento Kings and Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Saturday’s game is the nightcap of a doubleheader, preceded at Staples Center by the Kings-Minnesota Wild hockey game.