Odom’s road back

Lamar Odom’s battles never seem to end. The 39-year-old former NBA forward was exposed to drugs at an early age, and has continually struggled against this particular demon. As an adolescent, the 6’10” Odom was a basketball prodigy: tall, athletic, with a quick first step and a soft touch. However, he longed for stability and continuity. Odom played for five different high schools, as being part of a traveling AAU team took up most of his time. 

Odom’s career path took him through five NBA teams, including run-ins with the league’s drug policy while with the Los Angeles Clippers, who drafted him. The winds changed, and thus came a winning stop with the Los Angeles Lakers, earning the jump-shooting small forward two championships to close out the last decade. Those trophies went well with his collection including Olympic bronze medal and FIBA World Cup gold medal. Odom last suited up for Laboral Kutxa Baskonia in Europe in 2014. 

In 2015, Odom was found unconscious in the Love Ranch, a legal brothel in Nevada, allegedly with a virtual master list of drugs in his body. He had reportedly suffered a dozen strokes in the incident, and survived an alleged six heart attacks.

As he worked to groove his shot and get his wind back in the week before departing for Dubai, Odom was visibly not as confident as someone whose teams have conquered the NBA. After that staggering series of health issues, the self-proclaimed “walking miracle” is soberly aware of the uphill climb back to competitiveness.

“I haven’t played basketball in five years. So I think, for someone who hasn’t played in such a long time - I’m doing pretty good,” Odom says plainly. “But I feel like every day, every time the ball is in my hands I’m getting better and better with it. So hopefully I can keep preparing and just put out all my effort in the Dubai tournament and play well.”

As of this writing, Mighty Sports has been on a winning run in Dubai, a tournament known for its physicality. The Filipino squad defeated the American University of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates national team. Odom has been calm, if somewhat hesitant, when popping out for open looks. Still, flashes of the old, smooth Odom peek through.

Given his size and position and skill set, Odom was often tasked to guard the league’s best players. A few stand out sharply in his memory.

“There are three of them, and all Hall of Famers,” Lamar recalls. “Tracy McGrady, who was really tough - so athletic, he can really shoot the ball. Kevin Garnett, because of his motor, and his attention to defense and offense. And Dirk Nowitzki, who just had that shot (one-legged fadeaway shot).”

Odom also played a season with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. As “The Flash” plays his final NBA season this year, Odom shared his fondness for the All-Star gusrd.

“Dwyane Wade is one of my favorite teammates. He was a rookie when we came into the NBA,” Odom explains. “I used to always tell him about how great he was, and how great he will be - and I’m not surprised to see how his NBA career ended up, not at all.”

But for Lamar Odom himself, the ending is far from written. He can still determine how history sees him, and most of all, how he will ultimately judge himself.