During Lamar Odom’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers, he was invited to play in the 2010 FIBA World Championships (now referred to as the World Cup) in Istanbul, Turkey, for the US men’s national basketball team. Lamar led his team to win gold for the first time since 1994.
The highlight of Lamar Odom’s professional basketball career was winning the NBA championships twice in two consecutive years, in 2009 and 2010. Lamar became the first basketball player in history to win NBA championships and FIBA gold in the same year.
However, Lamar’s life wasn’t exactly glamorous. He had a rough upbringing; his mother died from cancer when he was 12, and his father was still a heroin addict. Lamar had to learn to fend for himself since childhood and had a near-death experience.
What is Lamar Odom Net Worth?
Lamar Odom’s main source of income was from his NBA career. His career in the NBA spanned to a total of 15 years with the LA Lakers being the longest team Lamar played for. As of writing, Lamar Odom’s net worth is US$30 million.
Lamar’s total NBA career earnings were around $115 million, his biggest contract was with the Miami Heat a six-deal contract worth $65 million, but Lamar only had a brief stint with the Heat. The LA Lakers secured him on a four-year deal for $33 million when another NBA giant tried to court him.
Who is Odom Lamar?
Lamar Joseph Odom was born on November 6, 1979 in a residential neighborhood South Jamaica in the borough of Queens, New York City. His mother, Cathy Mercer died from colon cancer when Lamar was 12, and his father, Joe Odom was a heroin addict. On her deathbed his mother passed the young Lamar a simple message before departing, “Be nice to everybody.” His maternal grandmother, Mildred Mercer took the 12-year-old Lamar under her wing and raised him.
Lamar played basketball for Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, Queens in this first three years. Due to poor academic performance, Lamar left the school in his last year of high school. First Lamar transferred to Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, New York, and then to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain, Connecticut where he met his basketball coach, and a ‘father’ figure Jerry DeGregorio.
Odom Lamar showed great potential as a basketball player during his senior year. In 1997, Lamar received an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine award as 1997’s Parade Player of the Year, and earned USA Today All-USA First Team honors. Lamar was named twice for two consecutive year to the Parade All-American First Team, an annual selection of top high school basketball players who are nationally honored in the United States.
At Adidas ABCD Camp, he played with one of the future biggest NBA stars and future Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant.
Basketball Career in College
Like what Kobe Bryant did, Lamar considered following his route to enter directly into the NBA after high school, and even consulted with Bryant. After contemplation, Lama decided he wasn’t ready and went on a scholarship to attend the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
During his time at UNLV, a story in Sports Illustrated magazine questioned his ACT score, and on top with an arrest for soliciting prostitution was enough cause for his scholarship to be revoked. An investigation carried out by the NCAA discovered illicit payments of $5,600 given to Lamar from a booster (a person who supports a school sports team). As a consequence, the coach got fired, and UNLV was placed on a four-year probation.
When Odom Lamar transferred to University of Rhode Island, he couldn’t afford basic necessities, as his father being a World War II veteran the benefits provided by the G.I. Bill was used to cover his living needs. Lamar basketball career almost took a stumble until his coach and Jerry DeGregorio helped him back on his feet.
Lamar only played for one season for the Rhode Island Rams in 1998-99. He helped led the Rams to the conference championship gave the team their first Atlantic 10 title, and was named the most valuable player of theAtlantic 10 Tournament.
Career in the NBA
Lamar was the fourth pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Lamar started out great on his debut in the NBA during his first season. He was named to the 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
However, in the following seasons in 2000-01 it was filled with troubles. Lamar was suspended for five games for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug policy. In the next season, he repeatedly violated the anti-drug policy again, add from his previous infraction Lama was luckily only got suspended for a month.
After a trade deal, Lama played for the Miami Heat in the 2003-04 season and had a solid season, but was traded again but in package with two other players for a giant Shaquille O’Neal.
When played for the Lakers, Lama missed the end of 2004-05 season with the LA Lakers due to a shoulder injury. In 2009, he won his first NBA championship when the Lakers defeated Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA finals.
Prior to the new season his former team, the Heat, heavily courted Lama by offering a competitive pay, but the Lakers managed to secure a 4-year deal with Lama for $33 million. The investment by the Lakers certainly paid off. The Lakers went onto win another NBA championship in the next season. They defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals in the deciding match of Game 7, 83-79 and crowned the 2010 NBA champion.
In 2010-11 season Lama was award the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, became of first player in the Lakers history to do so.
In 2011, Lama was traded to the defending champion, Dallas Mavericks. Lamar was benched in most of the games. The ran in with the Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cubans was the last straw when he responded angrily at Cubans when was asked about his commitment to the team. On April 2012 the Mavericks announced Lamar’s departure — but instead of releasing Lamar, the Mavericks kept him inactive for the remainder of the season so they could trade him when the season ends.
In 2012, Lamar was traded to one of his former teams, LA Clippers. Lamar was out of shape half of the season. Unfortunately, when the season ended, Lamar did not land any new contract.
In 2014, Lamar signed with a team in the Spanish league, Laboral Kutxa Baskonia and the Euroleague for a two-month contract with the option for a further contract extension. Due to a back injury he returned to the US a month later, and his personal doctor ruled him out of any further matches. Lama appeared in just two games for the Baskonia.
Personal Life
Odom Lamar had three children, two boys, and a girl, from a previous relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Liza Morales. They met when they were teenagers at Christ the King High SchoolinQueens. Tragically, in 2006, Lama’s baby girl, Jayden, was only 6 and a half years old and died from sudden infant death syndrome.
After his NBA retirement, he rekindled his relationship with his father, Joe Odom, after he became drug-free. Lamar still remains a close friend to his high school coach, Jerry DeGregorio, who he calls his “white dad.” DeGregorio is also the godfather to his sons, Destiny and Lamar Jr.
In 2009, after just a month of dating Khloé Kardashian, the two got married. Their wedding was featured on the reality TV series E! Keeping Up with the Kardashians produced. In 2010, E! created a spinoff with the Lamar family and his two kids from his previous relationship, Khloé & Lamar. The series debuted on April 2011 and only lasted for two seasons.
In 2013, Lamar was arrested for DUI. On December 9 of that year, Lamar pleaded no contest to the DUI charges and was sentenced to three years probation and three months of rehabilitation for alcohol abuse. Just four days later, on December 13, Khloé filed for divorce, demanding that her original family name be legally restored. Their divorce was finalized in December 2016. Gossip circulated online that Khloé Kardashian only married Lamar for the show, not slight out of love.
In 2019, Odom announced he was engaged to a health and lifestyle coach, Sabrina Parr. On November 5, 2020, the engagement was called off.
In 2003, Lamar purchased an exclusive gated community mansion in Miami, Florida, for $3 million. After his stint with the Miami Heat, he listed the mansion on the market for $5.2million. After dropping his listed price three times, he eventually settled exactly half the original listed price for $2.6million
In 2009 Khloe and Lamar bought an 8,400-sq. ft. home in Tarzana, California for $3.95 million. In 2014, while still married to Khloe Kardashian, the couple listed their Tarzana, California mansion for $5.5 million. The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco purchased the seven-bedroom Tarzana mansion for $5.49 million.
Tragedies
During the height of his NBA career, his close cousin was murdered. The day after attending his cousin’s funeral, he was involved in a car accident, tragically killing a teenage cyclist while Lamar was a passenger in an SUV.
In 2015, Lamar had a near-death experience when he was found unconscious at the Love Ranch, a legal brothel in Crystal, Nevada. It’s discovered he had been using cocaine days prior resulting in suffered kidney failure, and several heart attacks. He eventually recovered and vowed to live a healthy life.
