Lamar Odom starts reality show life with wife Khloe Kardashian

His wife, Khloe Kardashian, is the sister of reality star Kim Kardashian from Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Odom, a forward for the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, admitted that he was "bitter" about being passed over for the All-Star Game, which was played at Staples Center on Feb. 20. Blake Griffin, a rookie forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, was chosen instead.

But the overriding issue in the first episode was his broken relationship with his estranged father Joe, who Odom says is a heroin addict. "I'm not asking him to be a father. I'm asking him to act like you are my father," Odom says.

Khloe met Joe at a book signing and kept insisting that Odom have a closer bond with his father. Odom calls him and puts him on speakerphone so his wife can hear the conversation. Joe's first remark after the opening greeting: "Give me a couple dollars, man, I'm wiped out." He also asks for groceries, tickets and shoes.

Odom is aware that if the Lakers (55-24) don't perform well — they entered Sunday's late game vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder on a four-game losing streak — he could face some of the blame. Although he has filmed this show during the season, he's averaging 14.3 points (his highest output in four seasons) and 8.8 rebounds per game.

"Of course. That's almost like the added incentive (to play better)," he said when the show was announced early in the NBA season. "If I play bad, you'll talk about it anyway, so I don't feel added pressure. I make sure I remain sharp."

Odom acknowledges that playing for one of NBA's highest-profile teams doesn't hurt. In his 12th NBA season, the 31-year-old is preparing for life after basketball. "That's the beauty of playing for an organization like this. The opportunities that present themselves are limitless. … Shoot for the moon and the stars," Odom said. "If I wasn't in the gym, I'd be flipping burgers somewhere."When Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant was asked in December if he planned on watching the show, he deadpanned: "Are you serious?"