Lamar Odom Attends Heat vs. Lakers After Kobe Bryant Reportedly Invites Him
Former NBA forward Lamar Odom attended Wednesday night's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat as a guest of former teammate Kobe Bryant.
Odom spoke with ESPN's Rachel Nichols, telling her he feels good. ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne previously reported Odom would be in attendance, indicating Bryant left two tickets for his friend.
Bleacher Report passed along a photo of Odom at the game:
Serena Winters of Lakers Nation also passed along video of Odom on the Jumbotron:
“Looks like he’s doing fantastic," Lakers head coach Byron Scott told reporters after the game, "He’s part of the family.”
Odom, 36, remains in the recovery process after being found unconscious at Nevada's Love Ranch brothel in October. According to Reuters, he reportedly suffered multiple strokes and was placed on life support before making a miraculous recovery over a monthslong hospital stay.
In January, Odom left the hospital. However, multiple accounts of Odom's recent activity show he's perhaps slipped back into substance abuse.
TMZ Sports reported Tuesday that Odom was drinking alcohol at a California bar just hours before attending Easter Day mass with estranged wife Khloe Kardashian. The outlet also indicated those closest to him, including Kardashian, have encouraged Odom to check into a rehab facility.
Odom has had issues with drugs and alcohol for several years, dating back to the end of his NBA career in 2013. He's been arrested for driving under the influence and had the travails of his life, culminating in his overdose, published throughout the tabloids.
Bryant has been supportive of Odom throughout. The two were teammates from 2004 to 2011 with the Lakers, with Odom playing the best basketball of his career. His trade to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 helped spark the end of his career, as his play took a drastic fall afterward.
Even with his life playing out in the tabloids, it's promising that Odom is saying he's in good health and spirits.
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