New Yorker Odom is one of the leaders on Team USA

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Lamar Odom played in the city's basketball shrines - Madison Square Garden, Rucker Park, Carnesecca Arena - before he ever suited up for an NBA game. But even the Jamaica, Queens, native had never played at Radio City Music Hall - the site of Team USA's intrasquad scrimmage Thursday - which is more associated with musical acts and the Rockettes.

"When you're in arenas, you play in front of a crowd," Odom said after Friday's practice at the MSG Training Facility. "When you're in Radio City Music Hall, you play in front of an audience. It was a little different playing on a stage, but it was cool."

Odom, who played three high school seasons at Christ the King before transferring his senior year, is the only player on Team USA's youthful 15-man roster born in New York. Does that speak to a decline in New York City basketball? Odom says no.

"The culture of basketball is never going to die ," Odom said, adding that he and Ron Artest, who played at LaSalle Academy in the East Village of Manhattan and collegiately at St. John's, both won an NBA championship with the Lakers this year. "When you talk about New York City basketball, you talk about summertime basketball, the CHSAA, public school league, that'll never change."

At 30 years old, the 6-10 Lakers forward is an elder statesman on Team USA, which opens its exhibition schedule for the World Championships in Turkey with a matchup against France at the Garden on Sunday afternoon. He and Chauncey Billups (33) are the only players on the roster born before 1982, and he, Billups and Rajon Rondo are the only ones who have won an NBA title. When Odom was playing on the 2004 Olympic team, Eric Gordon, Team USA's youngest player, was 15.

Speaking of that 2004 Olympic team, it was one of USA basketball's biggest disappointments, as it was the first time an American team composed of professionals failed to win a gold medal. It came away with bronze after finishing 5-3.

That was Odom's last taste of international basketball, and he'd like to wash it away with a solid performance this time around. So not only is he working on his own game, but he's aided the team's young big men, thought to be Team USA's weakest link. Friday, he helped 7-foot Wizards center JaVale McGee with his post moves.

"We're here to win and we're trying to just implement that in their head," Odom said of the youngsters while pounding his fist in his hand for emphasis. "That's the only thing that's really important. You're not going to get 20 shots and you're not going to be the leading scorer every night."

Playing a complementary role is something Odom does extremely well on a Lakers team with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Artest and Andrew Bynum all requiring touches. And according to Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, this squad can really use his intangibles.

"Everyone says Kevin Durant's the leader," Krzyzewski said. "He may be our best player, but that doesn't mean you're the leader. Let Chauncey and Lamar be leaders."

Odom would have liked to lead his young friends around his home city a bit more, but their weeklong trip to the city has been quite busy.

Said Odom: "I love playing in the city, wherever I'm at. But actually, this is a little bit of pleasure and a lot of business."