Lamar Odom’s grandmother, Mildred Mercer, once told him that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Yet there was Odom, the native of South Jamaica, Queens, after helping the U.S. National Team drub France, 86-55, at the Garden in a tuneup for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, enjoying a last laugh.
Odom has done just about everything there is to do on and off a basketball court. He recently married the beautiful Khloe Kardashian in front of 3.2 million viewers on reality TV, helped the Lakers win their 16th NBA title in June and is teaming with his wife on a new reality show called “Khlomar.”
Not bad for a kid who grew up without the benefit of a father, lost his mother, Kathy Mercer, to cancer when he was 12 and had to find a way out of the city.
“I have a great appreciation for life,” Odom said after scoring eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, grabbing seven rebounds and adding a steal, assist and block.
“I’ve put myself in a position where I might be a positive influence to others,” he continued. “A lot of guys I grew up with are not here, or their NBA dreams didn’t make it. They’re in jail. I’m a man. That’s what I’m most proud of. I’ve been blessed.”
He was blessed to have a grandmother like Mercer and an aunt like JaNean Mercer to raise him. He was blessed to have coaches such as Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Mike Krzyzewski, the U.S. coach, and Ron Naclerio, the Cardozo High School coach who was the first to lock Odom in a gym and make him work on his game.
“There’s nothing bad anyone can say about Lamar,” Naclerio told The Post. “I just saw him and he said, ‘Coach, I’ll be back in New York after this, can we work out?’ ”
Odom, 30, is the second oldest player on the roster, after Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups, who scored 17 for the U.S. They’re the leaders, which is exactly how Odom wants it.
He spoke yesterday of possibly going into coaching someday (maybe the first reality basketball coaching show?). He knows he wants to stay around the game. After he buried his mother, Odom shot baskets long into the night at his neighborhood’s Lincoln Park.
Two years ago he hosted Lamar Odom Day at Lincoln Park. Every kid got a present. That night he hosted a barbecue at his old house. He brought Khloe back to his old neighborhood — 165th and Jamaica Ave. — this past Independence Day weekend.
“She had never stepped out of Manhattan,” Odom said. “It was a new experience. I guess to see the people’s reaction. Everyone is so real and grounded, respectful yet street smart. I’ll never forget where I’m from.”
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Thunder and former Georgetown forward Jeff Green and Wizards center JaVale McGee were cut yesterday, bringing the U.S. roster to 13. The U.S. will open play at the World Cup in Turkey on Aug. 28 against Croatia. . . . Rudy Gay led all scorers with 19 points, and Kevin Durant provided 14 points and eight rebounds. . . . Puerto Rico beat China 92-76 in the second game of the doubleheader.