Lamar Odom, second from left, vying for a loose ball against UNC-Charlotte in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, won Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors during his season at URI.

The Providence Journal / John Freidah

BOSTON — It’s not Kingston or Keaney Gymnasium, but Lamar Odon says his return to New England for the NBA Finals has him thinking about Rhode Island.

Odom’s brief, one-season career as a Rhody Ram in 1998-99 helped propel him to NBA stardom. Now in his ninth pro season, the Lakers’ 6-foot-10 forward says he realizes his stop at URI provided a fortunate break in his career.

“I’ll never forget the opportunity that they gave me,” he said. “Of course I was the number-one high school player coming out of high school and went to the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Things didn’t work out there, so I had to come here. They had open arms for me and they gave me a chance to play.”

Odom sat out his first year at URI because of academic concerns, but took the Atlantic 10 by storm the following year as he won Rookie of the Year honors and hit a 30-foot jumper at the buzzer to beat Temple in the A-10 tournament. The shot sent the Rams to the NCAAs for the second straight year. He was the fourth overall pick in the ‘99 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Odom, who said he sees his college coach, Jim Harrick, frequently at Lakers home games, admitted that he didn’t do everything perfectly at URI. He was not an attentive student and frequently skipped town to go home to New York.

“I’m more of a man. I was 18 when I got to the University of Rhode Island. I didn’t always do things the right way,” Odom said. “You know, I’m comfortable in my skin, I’m prepared mentally and physically more than ever, and I’m just ready to go out here and to show everyone that I’m a man.”

Odom will be matched up frequently with Celtics star Kevin Garnett in this series and he know he’s in for a major challenge, especially on defense.

“Well, my favorite word in this series is going to be ‘help,” he said. “A guy like that you need as much help as possible. … Kevin Garnett is going to take and make some shots that you can’t help. You’ve got to be right in his face. I’m 6-10. When he jumps and turns over me, all I see is (his) number five.”

Foul shots

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said that reserve swingman Tony Allen is moving well and his injured right ankle has progressed to the point where he’s likely to be activated for tonight’s game. … Both teams are antsy to get the series rolling but the coaches insist the rest was both well-needed and well-deserved. … Celtics legends Bill Russell and John Havlicek will join with other team representatives and NBA commissioner David Stern to unveil a new Reading & Learning Center at Blackstone Community Center in Boston tomorrow. The center will provide more than 100 children each day with a safe place to read and learn with a new library and a technology center equipped with 15 laptops.

kmcnamar@projo.com