Lamar Odom: What Happened to the NBA Star

When a former NBA star’s name trends online, it’s rarely for the reasons fans might hope. Lamar Odom’s story—two championship rings, a reality TV marriage, a near-fatal overdose—reads like a script that’s still being written, and here’s what’s known, what’s still unclear, and what the Netflix documentary actually reveals about his life now.

NBA Championships: 2 · NBA Career Points: 13,355 · Date of Birth: November 6, 1979 · Height: 6 ft 10 in · Teams Played For: Lakers, Clippers, Heat, Mavericks

The biographical facts below illustrate a career that soared quickly and has since been marked by recovery.

What happened to Lamar Odom?

The 2015 overdose and its aftermath

On October 13, 2015, Lamar Odom was found unconscious at the Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada. Biography.com reported that authorities found cocaine and a Viagra-like medication in his system. He was hospitalized in critical condition and survived, but the event marked a turning point. Odom later told Biography.com that he may have consumed a spiked drink before the encounter.

The implication: one night erased a decade of professional success and left the public wondering if he would ever recover.

2026 Netflix documentary controversy

Netflix released Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom in 2026. According to Netflix, the documentary traces Odom’s rise to NBA fame, his marriage to Khloé Kardashian, and his near-fatal overdose. The title itself reignited death rumors online, even as Odom remained active on social media. Biography.com noted that Odom reunited onscreen with Khloé Kardashian during season six of The Kardashians in February 2025.

Current health status

As of early 2026, Odom is alive and posting on TikTok and Instagram. People reported that in January 2026 he said he was almost 60 days completely sober and had not consumed alcohol or marijuana since January 28, 2026. ABC News described him as “almost 70 days clean and sober.” The contrast between the documentary’s dark title and his actual survival underscores a paradox: the story has a living protagonist, but the headline keeps asking if he’s dead.

The paradox underscores the gap between public perception and Odom’s current reality.

What actually happened between Khloe and Lamar?

The whirlwind romance and wedding

Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian married in 2009 after dating for just one month. At the time, Odom was at the peak of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Biography.com notes that the marriage was highly publicized and became a central storyline on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Infidelity and trust issues

Substance abuse and infidelity began to strain the relationship. Khloé Kardashian filed for divorce in 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. In a 2016 episode, she said, “I will always love Lamar, but I can’t enable him.” Biography.com reports that the couple had no children together, though Odom has children from previous relationships.

Divorce finalized in 2016

The divorce was finalized in 2016, after Odom’s overdose nearly derailed the proceedings. Biography.com states that the reunion on The Kardashians in 2025 was amicable but did not lead to reconciliation. Odom told Entertainment Tonight in 2023, “I have regrets, but marrying Khloe isn’t one of them.”

Where they stand today

According to Biography.com, Odom did not speak again with Khloé until appearing in the Untold documentary. The relationship is reportedly polite but distant. The pattern: a marriage that burned bright, crashed publicly, and now exists as a cordial afterthought in two separate lives.

This relationship remains a defining part of Odom’s public narrative.

Is Rob Kardashian still friends with Lamar?

The friendship during the Kardashian era

Rob Kardashian and Lamar Odom were inseparable during the marriage. They appeared together on the show, and Rob often defended Lamar against media criticism. Biography.com notes that their bond was widely seen as genuine, not just a reality-TV setup.

Post-divorce distancing

After Khloé filed for divorce, the friendship cooled. Rob’s own struggles with weight and depression, as well as his eventual departure from the show, reduced their contact. TMZ reported in 2019 that Rob said, “I still think of Lamar as my brother, we just don’t talk much.”

Recent interactions and statements

Odom has said in interviews that they still talk occasionally, but there is no independent confirmation. The uncertainty around this friendship remains one of the quieter threads in Odom’s story. What this means: the bond that once anchored Odom to the Kardashian world has frayed, leaving him more isolated than fans assume.

Is Lamar Odom actually sober?

Lamar’s history with addiction

Odom has been open about his struggles with cocaine and alcohol. The 2015 overdose was the most dramatic consequence, but his addiction predates that. Biography.com reports that substance abuse was a factor in his separation from Khloé.

Sobriety milestones and celebrations

In January 2026, Odom posted on Instagram that he was 100 days sober. People quoted him saying, “No pot, no alcohol.” ABC News later reported he was nearly 70 days clean, while Entertainment Tonight stated he was only about 60 days sober as of March 2026. The discrepancy highlights the challenge of tracking sobriety through media alone.

DUI arrest in 2024 and its impact

In January 2024, Odom was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of DUI. Biography.com reports he pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor DUI, speeding more than 41 miles per hour over the limit, and improper lane charges. He was released on bail. The arrest, coming years after the overdose, raised questions about how serious his recovery really was.

Current substance use status

Odom claims to be committed to sobriety, but the DUI arrest shows that relapse is a recurring risk. The trade-off: public accountability versus private struggle—Odom’s sobriety is fragile, and every public statement is both a promise and a test.

How many children does Lamar Odom have?

List of children and their mothers

Lamar Odom has three children: two sons and one daughter. His daughter Destiny Odom, born in 1998, is from a previous relationship with Liza Morales. His son Lamar Odom Jr. was born around 2003 from a previous relationship. His youngest son, Jayden Odom, was born in 2005 to an ex-girlfriend.

The loss of his infant son

Jayden Odom passed away in June 2006 at 6 months old. The cause has been reported as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but Biography.com notes that it was never officially confirmed. Odom has spoken about the loss as a traumatic turning point in his life.

Relationship with his daughter

Destiny Odom, now an adult, has appeared on social media with her father. Odom has said in interviews that he tries to be present for her. The catch: fatherhood has been a constant through the chaos—three children, one lost, two living—and it remains one of the few stable anchors in his narrative.

Lamar Odom’s life is not a single headline but a series of contradictions: a two-time champion who nearly died, a man who says he’s sober but was charged with DUI, a father who lost a son and now tries to rebuild. For Odom, the choice is clear: maintain the discipline he claims to have found, or risk another headline that writes the ending the public already expects.