Lamar Odom was a former NBA player from 1999 to 2014 and starred on (Keep up with the Kardashians) and (Khloe and Lamar) with his ex-wife, TV Personality and Model Khloe Kardashians. After his mother passed away from Colon cancer, his grandmother took custody of Odom. His father was a drug addict who struggles to be part of his son’s life.
Odom’s life was about to change when he became recognized in his basketball team at Chris The King High school. He was the face of the top prospects in the basketball field, and every college NBA team witness his games. During his 10th grade year, Odom shocked the audience with a 36-point lead and won the Catholic High School Athletic Association Championship.
After witnessing the win, College representatives offered him scholarships to attend their college and represent their basketball team. Odom was grateful to be skillful on the basketball court to keep his mind off from doing illegal activities. During his 12th grade year, his grandmother was concerned that Odom focused more on his basketball games than improving his games. As a result of his poor grades, Odom transferred to a different high school.
In 1997, Odom went to the University of Rhode Island after the situation at his previous university. Thanks to his father’s G.I. Bill, he was covered to attempt classes and his room’s cost per month. However, due to his status as a non-matriculating student, Odom was ineligible to play for the Rhode Island Rams.
In the summer of 1998, he was eligible to play in the basketball team and score an average of 17.6 points per game. Odom’s inspiration to push forward was from his grandmother, who raised her five children and received her college degree at 56 years old.
In 1999, Odom was draft into the Los Angeles Clippers after complete his freshman year at the University of Rhode Island. He scores an average of 17.2 points, 7.8 rebound points, and 4.2 assist points. After his first season with the Clippers, Odom was select as the 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
In March 2001, Odom was suspended from having drugs in his body system and couldn’t play for five games. Eight months after his 1st suspension, he was caught again with drugs in his body system. After his performance was gone downhill, Odom was trade-in to play for the Miami Heat.
During his time playing with the Heat, he scored an average of 23 points, 9.7 rebound points, and 11 assist points per game. After the 2002-2003 NBA Finals was over, Odom was trade-in to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. During his first year with the Lakers, he suffered a left shoulder injury and cost him to sit on the bench for the rest of the season.
During the 2005-2006 NBA playoffs, Odom began to slip into his old ways; however, as the season playoffs progress, his performance was improving. Odom scored an average of 33.9 points and 20.2 rebound points. In 2009, the Lakers won their first NBA Championship after defeat the Orlando Magic in the finals. As Odom became the Lakers’ rising star, they won their second NBA Championship against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals.
In 2011, Odom was select as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, which marks his legacy to become the first player in the Lakers’ history to be award. After the NBA season was over, Odom had an emergency call from his family members and received news that his cousin was a murder from the shooting action.
In December 2011, Odom returned to the NBA and got draft by the Dallas Mavericks. His drug addiction and other mental issues have caused Odom to be vulnerable and slipping down his performance as an NBA player. In 2012, Odom decided to depart from the Mavericks to hope that he gets treatment for his mental illness.
In June 2012, Odom was trade-in back to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the four-team deal in the NBA draft. He scored a low average of 40% shots and 5.9 rebound points. After the 2012-2013 NBA playoffs, the NBA teams didn’t offer Odom to join them due to poor performance and lack of confident in the basketball court.
In April 2014, Odom gave a chance to play for the New York Knicks. During the 2013-2014 NBA playoffs, Odom was loyal to the Knicks throughout each game until he didn’t show up in the finals. Three months later, the Knicks decided to release him from playing for the team.
After Odom retired from playing in the NBA, he continues to get treatment for his mental illness, reconnected with his father, spend time with his children, and started his music and film production company. Everything that Odom has overcome in the past, he seems happy to be relaxing, healthy, and at peace and continues to be grateful for living his life every day.
