Lamar Odom is professional basketball player who once played for the Los Angeles Lakers for seven seasons. Parade Magazine even listed Lamar Odom as the 1997 National Player of the Year for his athletic skills and talent.
In the Beginning
Lamar Odom was born on November 6, 1979 in South Jamaica, Queens, New York. At the time Lamar Odom was born, it was during the crack cocaine epidemic taking place in New York City in the 1980s and '90s. His father was Joseph, a man who was a heroin addict and a disabled his veteran. His mom on the other hand, Cathy Mercer, raised Lamar on her own. So the two became very close. Cathy worked as a traffic and corrections officer. She wanted to make sure Lamar stayed away from the dangers of the street in the area they lived in. Lamar took to basketball when he was only seven years old, and came to love the game. Practicing hard so he could become better and better at it. Lamar's athletic skill improved as he continued to practice basketball. His mother passed away due to colon cancer when he was only twelve years old. After the death of his mother he went to go live with his grandmother, Mildred Mercer, who encouraged him to focus on his sports and studies like his mother had. Lamar attended Christ the King High School, and had begun to receive national attention for his skills in basketball. He also attended the Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, New York before playing for the St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain, Connecticut in his senior year of high school. At the time Parade Magazine named Lamar Odom as “Player of the Year”. Despite the national attention, Lamar Odom enrolled in the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Even enrolling in summer classes, but the university released Lamar when Sports Illustrated began to question his high ACT score. He did transfer to the University of Rhode Island, but was not allowed to play the 1997-1998 season. He did get his chance to play for one season at Rhode Island, and was eligible for the 1999 NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Clippers selected Lamar Odom, and were only the stepping stone to his budding basketball career.
Most Known For
Lamar Odom is a well known for his basketball career, but his usually recognized for play for the Los Angeles Lakers. He's also appeared on the hit reality TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. He married Khloé Kardashian on September 27, 2009. Their relationship was highly publicized a the time. Their wedding was even captured during the time the show was being filmed as well.
Where Are They Now
Lamar Odom has been facing problems with in his relationship and struggling with drug abuse. In August of 2013, TMZ reported the basketball star was having issues in his marriage. Odom was reported missing by his wife at the time, but it soon came to light his friends were helping him with his drug abuse problems. Kardashian filed for divorce in December of 2013, and the couple signed for the divorce in July of 2015. People magazine has reported a judgment as not entered into the court, and thus Kardashian and Lamar are still married legally. On October 13, 2015 Lamar was found to be unresponsive at a Nevada brothel. He had been residing at the brothel for a couple of days. Even taking an herbal sexual stimulant at the time too. He was taken immediately to a local hospital before being transferred to Sunrise Medical Center in Las Vegas. It was reported on October 15, 2015 Lamar was beginning to show improvement. He was eventually released from the hospital and transferred to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles for rehabilitation.
Career Accomplishments
Lamar Odom was recognized even at a young age for his athletic prowess in basketball. Parade Magazine called Lamar “Player of the Year” in 1997. In his freshman year of college he was eligible for the NBA draft. The Los Angeles Clippers picked him up, and afterwards Lamar Odom's basketball career began. He played a stint with other teams like the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks. He was eventually traded back to play for the Los Angeles Clippers.
