Lamar Joseph Odom is a retired American professional basketball player. He played in the NBA from 1999 to 2013. Odom won two NBA championships as a Los Angeles Laker in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Odom's contributions as a valuable player off the bench led to being named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Dallas Mavericks. Odom's basketball career was marred by personal struggles including substance abuse issues that ended his career.
November 6, 1979: Birth of Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom was born on November 6, 1979.
1980: Grandmother Earns Degree
Lamar Odom's grandmother earned her degree in 1980 at the age of 56, inspiring him.
1994: Previous FIBA Gold for U.S.
In 1994, the U.S. national team had last won a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship. This marked the victory Odom's 2010 win broke the dry spell for.
1997: High School Accolades
In 1997, Lamar Odom received several national high school basketball honors, including being named Parade Player of the Year.
1997: Transferred to the University of Rhode Island
Lamar Odom transferred to the University of Rhode Island in 1997.
1997: National High School Player of the Year
Lamar Odom was named national high school player of the year by Parade magazine in 1997.
1998: Success at the University of Rhode Island
During the 1998-1999 season, Lamar Odom led the University of Rhode Island Rams to the conference championship and was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year.
1998: Birth of Destiny Odom
Lamar Odom's daughter, Destiny, was born in 1998.
1999: Declared for NBA Draft
Lamar Odom declared for the 1999 NBA draft after his freshman year at the University of Rhode Island.
1999: Drafted into the NBA
Lamar Odom was drafted into the NBA by the Los Angeles Clippers with the fourth overall pick in 1999.
2000: Increased Scoring Average
Lamar Odom increased his scoring average to 17.2 points per game in the 2000-2001 season.
2000: NBA All-Rookie First Team
Lamar Odom was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2000.
March 2001: First Suspension for Violating Anti-Drug Policy
In March 2001, Lamar Odom was suspended for five games for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy.
2002: Second Suspension and Restricted Free Agency
During the 2002-2003 season, Lamar Odom's production slipped, and he played only 49 games. The following summer, he became a restricted free agent.
2002: Birth of Lamar Odom Jr.
Lamar Odom's son, Lamar Jr., was born in 2002.
2003: Signed with the Miami Heat
Lamar Odom signed with the Miami Heat in 2003.
2004: Olympic Bronze Medal
Lamar Odom won a bronze medal with the United States national team at the 2004 Olympics.
2004: Joined the Los Angeles Lakers
Lamar Odom joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.
2004: Bronze Medal at the Athens Olympics
In 2004, Lamar Odom played for the U.S. national team at the Athens Olympics, where he contributed to the team's bronze medal finish, averaging 9.3 points per game.
2005: Inconsistent Performance and Playoff Elimination
During the 2005-2006 season, Lamar Odom showed inconsistency but improved towards the end, even posting consecutive triple-doubles. However, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
2005: Birth of Jayden Odom
Lamar Odom's son, Jayden, was born in 2005.
June 29, 2006: Death of Jayden Odom
On June 29, 2006, Lamar Odom's 6½-month-old son, Jayden, tragically died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
2006: Declined FIBA World Championships Invitation
Lamar Odom declined an invitation to play for the U.S. at the 2006 FIBA World Championships due to the death of his son.
2006: Limited Games Due to Injuries
Lamar Odom was limited to 56 games in the 2006-2007 season due to injuries.
2007: Increased Production Amidst Injuries and Trades
During the 2007-2008 season, after injuries and trades, Lamar Odom stepped up his production for the Lakers.
2007: Declined FIBA World Championships Invitation Due to Injury
In 2007, Lamar Odom declined another invitation to play in the FIBA World Championships because of a shoulder injury.
2007: Playoff Elimination Against the Suns
The Lakers were defeated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs.
2008: Loss in the NBA Finals
The Los Angeles Lakers, with Lamar Odom, lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals.
2008: Training Camp and Sixth Man Role
In 2008, Lamar Odom reported to training camp out of shape. Coach Phil Jackson planned to make him the sixth man, backing up Gasol, Bynum, and Ariza. Initially hesitant about the new role, Odom eventually embraced it, aiming to support his teammates and win a championship. After Bynum's injury in January, Odom rejoined the starting lineup.
July 31, 2009: Re-signs with Lakers
On July 31, 2009, after being courted by the Miami Heat, Lamar Odom re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $33 million contract.
September 2009: Marriage to Khloé Kardashian
Lamar Odom married Khloé Kardashian in September 2009 after a month of dating. They met at a party for his Lakers teammate, Ron Artest.
2009: Candy Replica Trophy
In 2009, Wrigley created a replica of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy out of candy to celebrate the Lakers' victory, featuring Odom's name.
2009: Return to Sixth Man Role and First NBA Championship
In 2009, when Andrew Bynum returned from injury on April 9th, Lamar Odom resumed his role as the sixth man. He averaged 11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists throughout the season. The Lakers went on to win the 2009 NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic, earning Odom his first NBA championship.
2009: Marriage to Khloé Kardashian
Lamar Odom married Khloé Kardashian in 2009.
2009: First NBA Championship with the Lakers
Lamar Odom won his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009.
December 2010: "Khloé & Lamar" Spinoff Announced
In December 2010, E! announced a spinoff reality series, "Khloé & Lamar," featuring Odom, Kardashian, and his two children.
2010: FIBA World Championship Gold Medal
Lamar Odom won a gold medal with the United States national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
2010: Second NBA Championship with the Lakers
Lamar Odom won his second NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010.
2010: FIBA World Championship Gold Medal
Lamar Odom won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, marking the first U.S. gold since 1994. He served as a mentor to younger players, played center, led the team in rebounds, and achieved double-doubles in both the semi-final and championship games. He became the first player to win both an NBA championship and FIBA gold in the same year.
2010: Second NBA Championship
In 2010, Lamar Odom played a key role in the Lakers' championship run, culminating in a victory against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
2010: Sixth Man of the Year Award
During the 2010-11 season, Lamar Odom achieved career-highs in three-point and overall field goal percentages. He started 35 games due to Bynum's absence and excelled in both starting and reserve roles. Odom's consistent performance earned him the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, a first for a Lakers player.
April 10, 2011: "Khloé & Lamar" Premieres
The reality series "Khloé & Lamar" premiered on April 10, 2011.
December 11, 2011: Trade to Dallas Mavericks
On December 11, 2011, Lamar Odom was traded to the Dallas Mavericks after a proposed three-team trade involving Chris Paul was vetoed by the NBA commissioner. Odom felt disrespected by the Lakers' handling of the situation and requested a trade to a contending team. The Lakers were also concerned about Odom's contract given the change in coaching staff and offensive strategy.
2011: NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
Lamar Odom was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
2011: Traded to the Dallas Mavericks
Lamar Odom was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
January 2012: Struggles with Mavericks
In January 2012, reports emerged about Lamar Odom's struggles to adapt to the Mavericks. He faced criticism from coach Rick Carlisle and reportedly felt the pressure of a challenging offseason.
March 2, 2012: Assigned to D-League
On March 2, 2012, Lamar Odom was assigned to the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League after missing three games for personal reasons.
March 3, 2012: Returns from D-League Assignment
Lamar Odom's assignment to the D-League was canceled on March 3, 2012, and he returned to the Mavericks' active roster.
April 9, 2012: Parts Ways with Mavericks
On April 9, 2012, Lamar Odom and the Dallas Mavericks parted ways. He was listed as inactive for the rest of the season, allowing the team to trade him later. This followed a clash with team owner Mark Cuban during a game on April 7th. Odom's time with the Mavericks was marked by career lows in several statistical categories.
June 29, 2012: Trade to Los Angeles Clippers
On June 29, 2012, Lamar Odom was traded back to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a four-team deal. This marked his return to Los Angeles, although not to the Lakers.
2012: "Khloé & Lamar" Cancelled
The reality series "Khloé & Lamar" was canceled in 2012 after two seasons.
2012: Traded back to the Clippers
Lamar Odom was traded back to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012.
July 2013: Free Agency
In July 2013, Lamar Odom became a free agent and did not secure an NBA contract, despite interest from the Clippers and Lakers.
August 30, 2013: DUI Arrest
On August 30, 2013, Lamar Odom was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and refused a chemical test.
2013: End of Knicks Season
In 2013, the New York Knicks finished the season with a 37-45 record and missed the playoffs.
February 18, 2014: Signs with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia
On February 18, 2014, Lamar Odom signed a two-month contract with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia of the Spanish League and Euroleague. However, he returned to the United States a month later due to a back injury, having played only two games for the team.
April 16, 2014: Signs with New York Knicks
On April 16, 2014, Lamar Odom signed with the New York Knicks for the remainder of the season. However, he did not appear in any games for the Knicks during this time.
July 11, 2014: Waived by Knicks
On July 11, 2014, Lamar Odom was waived by the New York Knicks.
2014: Played in Spain
Lamar Odom played professional basketball briefly in Spain in 2014.
July 2015: Divorce Papers Signed
In July 2015, Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian signed divorce papers.
October 13, 2015: Hospitalization
On October 13, 2015, Lamar Odom was hospitalized after being found unconscious at a Nevada brothel. He suffered kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes, and was placed on life support before regaining consciousness.
October 2015: Divorce Filing Dismissed
In October 2015, Khloé Kardashian's request for a divorce from Lamar Odom was dismissed.
October 2015: Hospitalization
In October 2015, Lamar Odom was hospitalized in a comatose state after being found unconscious in a Nevada brothel.
2015: Top Google Trends List
Lamar Odom topped the Google Trends list for living people in 2015, indicating high search traffic related to him.
January 8, 2016: Road to Recovery
On January 8, 2016, reports emerged that Lamar Odom was making remarkable strides in his recovery after leaving the hospital.
May 26, 2016: Second Divorce Filing
Khloé Kardashian filed for divorce from Lamar Odom for a second time on May 26, 2016.
December 2016: Divorce Finalized
Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian's divorce was finalized in December 2016.
2016: Divorce from Khloé Kardashian
Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian divorced in 2016.
2017: Public Discussion of Health Struggles
In 2017, Lamar Odom publicly addressed his health issues, cocaine addiction, and recovery, calling himself a "walking miracle."
December 2018: Joins Mighty Sports
In December 2018, Lamar Odom joined the Philippine club Mighty Sports to play in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament in February 2019.
November 2019: Engagement to Sabrina Parr
Lamar Odom announced his engagement to health and lifestyle coach Sabrina Parr in November 2019.
2019: Big3 Experience
In 2019, Lamar Odom joined the Big3 league as co-captain of the Enemies team. However, he struggled in his first game and was deactivated for the remainder of the season.
2019: Dubai Tournament
In 2019, Lamar Odom played for Mighty Sports in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament in preparation for a potential return to professional basketball.
November 5, 2020: Engagement Called Off
On November 5, 2020, Sabrina Parr confirmed that her engagement to Lamar Odom had been called off.
June 11, 2021: Boxing Match with Aaron Carter
On June 11, 2021, Lamar Odom participated in an exhibition boxing match against singer/rapper Aaron Carter, knocking him out in the second round.
October 2, 2021: Boxing Match with Ojani Noa
On October 2, 2021, Lamar Odom won a celebrity boxing match against Ojani Noa, Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband.
February 2022: Celebrity Big Brother Appearance
In February 2022, Lamar Odom appeared as a HouseGuest on the third season of Celebrity Big Brother.
2023: Sale of Odom Senior Care and ZNest Role
In 2023, Lamar Odom sold his company, Odom Senior Care, to ZNest.com and became their Chief Creative Officer, focusing on senior care solutions.