Lamar Odom is a retired American professional basketball player known for winning two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He gained public attention for his stellar sports career, his high-profile marriage to reality TV star Khloé Kardashian, and his subsequent public struggles with addiction that nearly claimed his life .
Quick Facts
Full Name: Lamar Joseph Odom
Age: 46 (born November 6, 1979)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Former Professional Basketball Player
Known For: NBA Champion, Sixth Man of the Year, Marriage to Khloé Kardashian
Marital Status: Divorced (Khloé Kardashian, 2009–2016)
Children: 3 (Destiny, Lamar Jr., and Jayden, who passed away in 2006)
Early Life and Background
Odom was born in Queens, New York, and raised in a challenging environment. His father was a heroin addict, and his mother died from colon cancer when he was only 12 years old, leaving him to be raised by his maternal grandmother . He discovered basketball as an escape and became a highly touted prospect, being named the Parade Player of the Year in high school .
Career and Achievements
Selected as the 4th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, Odom quickly established himself as a uniquely skilled 6-foot-10 forward . After a season with the Miami Heat, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004 . It was with the Lakers that Odom experienced his greatest professional success, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010 . He also earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2011 . Odom also represented the United States internationally, winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and a gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship .
Major Event or Controversy
In October 2015, Odom was found unconscious at a Nevada brothel after a drug overdose. He suffered 12 strokes and six heart attacks and was placed in a medically induced coma with doctors giving him little chance of survival . His estranged wife at the time, Khloé Kardashian, was crucial in making life-saving medical decisions. Odom’s miraculous recovery was widely covered by the media. He has since claimed the incident was not a simple overdose but “a hit” on his life .
Why He is in the News
Lamar Odom is currently in the news due to the release of the Netflix documentary Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, which premiered on March 31, 2026 . The documentary details his career, addiction, and near-fatal 2015 overdose, featuring interviews with his ex-wife Khloé Kardashian, his children, and former coach Phil Jackson . In recent interviews, Odom has spoken about his sobriety and the “cesspool of trauma” he revisits by sharing his story .
Conclusion
Lamar Odom is a figure of immense talent and tragic personal struggles, whose story serves as a cautionary tale about fame and addiction. Having survived a near-death experience, he remains a “walking miracle,” using his platform to discuss recovery and the importance of overcoming adversity.
