Once-hated Mavericks villain shockingly flips script to become a Dallas hero

After making the NBA Finals in 2024, the Dallas Mavericks expected to be championship contenders, but instead, became the laughingstock of the NBA. After trading Luka Doncic, fans called for Nico Harrison's job, and inconsistency on the court led to the Mavericks becoming one of the jokes of the league. Since then, the basketball gods have answered the call from Mavs fans by handing them the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which ultimately became Cooper Flagg.

Now, the Mavs have dreams of their own to make the NBA Finals again, with just a different identity. The year following the Mavs' only championship season in 2011, it became clear that the roster had become too old to compete for a title. When the Mavs traded for Lamar Odom, fans expected a lot. Instead, he flopped massively and became an instant enemy of Mavs fans. Now, he's hoping to shine a new light on Mavs fans that they would have never expected by building a school in Kileen, Texas, and giving back to the Texas community.

Of course, Mavs fans won't forget the baggage that came with Odom, on and off the court. Odom hasn't even been a resident of Texas since his failed Mavs' stint back in the 2011-12 season. He can finally rekindle his relationship with the hard-working folks of The Lone Star State by giving back to the kids, as things like this are much bigger than basketball.

Lamar Odom may finally win Mavericks fans over with this good deed

Odom's school will be sports-focused, but it will also be used for e-sports, technology, math, and more. Even though one small business owner wasn't buying Odom's charity, this is a great move from the two-time NBA champion to give back to the people in Texas.

Mavs fans may never forgive Odom for not getting into shape, and he had personal issues off the court, too. Mavs fans are understandably still frustrated at Odom, knowing that he was supposed to be an important piece to defending Dallas' title. At 45 years old, he's trying to change his life for the better and deserves a second chance to make right with the citizens in Central Texas. He's not necessarily in the Dallas area, but there are plenty of Mavs fans down in Kileen.

It takes a lot for fans to forgive, and sometimes, they remember the guys who stained the organization for the worst more than the ones they cherish forever. Guys like J.J. Barea, Tyson Chandler, and Jason Terry will live in Mavs lore for the rest of time, and guys like Odom and Rajon Rondo, who quit on their team, will always be enemies.

Even though Odom's short stint in Dallas didn't end well, he's trying to do right from the past mistakes he made in his life. This is a great start, even though he's starting in Kileen out of all places. Hopefully, he can be a role model for kids in a different way compared to what he was known for in his NBA career.

Will it take Mavs fans a lot to still forgive him? Sure, but this is a great start in the right direction to do right for the kids.