Lamar Odom: NBA Career, Championships and Life Story

Lamar Odom is a former American professional basketball player whose career included two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and the 2011 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. A versatile 6-foot-10 forward, Odom was known for his rebounding, passing and ability to play multiple positions. He spent 14 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, finishing his playing career with the Clippers in 2013.

Odom also represented the United States internationally, winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and a gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. His life away from basketball, including highly publicized health and personal struggles, later became an important part of his public story.

Early Life & Background

Lamar Joseph Odom was born on November 6, 1979, in Jamaica, Queens, New York. He attended Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, New York, before playing college basketball at the University of Rhode Island.

Odom entered the NBA directly from the draft rather than spending a traditional four-year college career. The Los Angeles Clippers selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.

His combination of size and ball-handling ability made him an unusual prospect. At 6-foot-10, he could contribute as a forward while also facilitating offense and defending multiple positions.

Education

Odom attended Redemption Christian Academy before continuing his basketball career at the University of Rhode Island. USA Basketball lists Rhode Island as his college, while NBA records identify the school as his last college attended before entering the 1999 draft.

His professional basketball career began before he completed a conventional four-year college path.

Career & Achievements

NBA Career With the Clippers and Heat

Odom began his professional career with the Los Angeles Clippers in 1999. He made an immediate impact and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after his debut season.

He spent his first four NBA seasons with the Clippers before joining the Miami Heat for the 2003-04 season. He then moved to the Lakers during the 2004 offseason as part of the trade that sent Shaquille O'Neal from Los Angeles to Miami.

Lakers Years and NBA Championships

Odom's most successful period came with the Lakers. He played seven seasons for the franchise and became an important part of the team's championship teams led by Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson.

The Lakers reached the NBA Finals three times during Odom's seven-season run, winning consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010. During his Lakers career, he averaged 13.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Odom's versatility was particularly valuable because he could play either forward position, rebound at a high level and initiate offense when needed. He was often used as a reserve during the Lakers' championship years while still playing major minutes.

2011 Sixth Man of the Year

Odom produced one of the best seasons of his career in 2010-11. He played all 82 regular-season games and averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 53 percent from the field.

That season earned him the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, making him the first Lakers player to receive the honor.

The award recognized Odom's ability to provide starter-level production while coming off the bench. His 2010-11 season remains one of the defining achievements of his NBA career.

Final NBA Seasons

After his successful Lakers run, Odom was traded to the Dallas Mavericks before the 2011-12 season. He later returned to the Clippers for the 2012-13 season, which became his final NBA campaign.

According to Basketball-Reference, Odom finished his NBA career with 961 regular-season games, averaging 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

International Basketball

Odom also had a successful international career with Team USA.

He was part of the American men's basketball team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where the United States won the bronze medal. He later represented the country at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, helping Team USA win the gold medal.

His international experience added two major medals to a résumé that already included two NBA championships.

Personal Life

Odom's personal life has received substantial media attention, particularly his marriage to television personality Khloé Kardashian. The couple met in 2009 and married in September of that year after a short courtship. They later appeared together on the reality series Khloé & Lamar.

Kardashian filed for divorce in 2013, but the proceedings were paused after Odom experienced a life-threatening medical crisis in 2015. The divorce was ultimately finalized in December 2016.

Odom has also spoken publicly about substance-use problems and his recovery. In 2015, he suffered a near-fatal overdose that resulted in a prolonged hospitalization. He later discussed that period of his life in his memoir, Darkness to Light.

In January 2026, Odom was arrested in Las Vegas on a DUI charge and cited for traffic violations, according to People, which reported the incident from court records and contemporaneous reporting.

Because Odom's health and substance-use history involve sensitive personal matters, they are best understood through his own public accounts and reputable reporting rather than speculation.

Net Worth

A precise current net-worth figure for Lamar Odom is difficult to establish reliably. Basketball-Reference records at least $115.9 million in NBA salary earnings, but career salary totals are not the same as personal net worth and do not account for taxes, expenses, investments, debts or other assets.

For that reason, no specific net-worth estimate is presented here.

Interesting Facts About Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom was selected fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1999 NBA Draft.

He won two NBA championships with the Lakers, in 2009 and 2010.

Odom was named the 2011 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, becoming the first Lakers player to win the award.

He was a member of the United States team that won bronze at the 2004 Olympics and gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Odom averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists over his NBA career.

He played his final NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012-13.

FAQs About Lamar Odom

How old is Lamar Odom?

Lamar Odom was born on November 6, 1979. He is 46 years old as of September 2026.

How tall is Lamar Odom?

Odom is listed at 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters) by the NBA.

How many NBA championships did Lamar Odom win?

Odom won two NBA championships, both with the Los Angeles Lakers, in 2009 and 2010.

Did Lamar Odom win Sixth Man of the Year?

Yes. Odom won the 2010-11 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award after averaging 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Lakers.

What teams did Lamar Odom play for?

Odom played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks during his NBA career. He returned to the Clippers for his final season.

Was Lamar Odom part of Team USA?

Yes. Odom represented the United States internationally and won an Olympic bronze medal in 2004 and a FIBA World Championship gold medal in 2010.

When did Lamar Odom retire from basketball?

Odom's final NBA appearance came with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2012-13 season. Basketball-Reference lists his NBA career as lasting 14 years.

Conclusion

Lamar Odom built a distinguished NBA career through versatility, rebounding and playmaking, ultimately winning two championships with the Lakers and earning the 2011 Sixth Man of the Year award. His international résumé includes an Olympic bronze medal and a FIBA World Championship gold medal.

His life after basketball has been more complicated, marked by highly publicized personal and health challenges. Odom has continued to speak publicly about those experiences, adding another dimension to the story of a player whose basketball career made him one of the notable forwards of his generation.