Former NFL stud Keyshawn Johnson knows what it's like to get jerked around by a coach ... and that's why he believes Lamar Odom should tell the Dallas Mavericks to EFF THEMSELVES for threatening to kick him down to the NBA Development League.
Johnson was out in L.A. this weekend when we asked how HE would handle the situation if a coach dropped him to the D-League in the middle of the season.
Without thinking twice, Key said ... "If I was him I'd ask for my release ... I'd tell 'em 'f*ck you' I'm asking for my release."
For the record, the Mavs reversed course and pulled Odom back on to the team this weekend after making the D-League announcement ... and he played pretty well.
But Key doesn't think the team should've made the announcement in the first place ... telling us, "[Lamar] can play ... I don't know what the problem is ... maybe he's just homesick."