Audio By Carbonatix
Lamar Odom only played with the Miami Heat for one season, but it was an important one in the team’s history. It was Dwyane Wade’s rookie year, and Odom was a key part of the roster that saw the team transition from an afterthought in the league to one that was regularly playoff-bound. He’d end up being sent to Los Angeles after that season in the mega-trade that brought Shaquille O’Neal to Miami, but his influence on the team and especially on Wade remained.
Odom was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel early yesterday. He remains in critical condition and has not yet regained consciousness.
His former team and teammate offered their prayers on Twitter.
I can't help but to be up right now… THINKING about my ex teammate/ friend LO.. On my knees praying…please God let him pull thru..
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) October 14, 2015
PRAYERS all the way UP for my brother Lamar Odom!!!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) October 14, 2015
everyone will ask why or say how could he do this or that. if you're not walking in life thru his eyes you will never know what it's like
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) October 14, 2015
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lamar Odom and his family at this time.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 14, 2015
LO was part of @MiamiHEAT history and will always be #HEATFamily everyone of us are praying for you.
— Micky Arison (@MickyArison) October 14, 2015
Praying for you LO #luckylefty
— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) October 14, 2015
After leaving the Heat, Odom would remain a consistent force on the Los Angeles Lakers roster for several seasons, and eventually found larger fame after his romance, marriage, and eventual divorce from Khloé Kardashian. The relationship was featured extensively on the Kardashian family’s numerous reality shows, and a spin-off, Khloé & Lamar, aired for two seasons.
The relationship ended amidst speculation of substance abuse on Odom’s part. In 2013, he was arrested on charges of DUI. The media always reported numerous episodes in the ensuing years when Odom had reportedly gone missing.
According to Associated Press reports, the owner of the Love Ranch brothel, Dennis Hof, says Odom checked in on Saturday “to get away, have a good time and relax.” Odom was staying at Hof’s home that adjoined the property. Hof says he did not think Odom was using illegal drugs but was drinking alcohol and using an herbal equivalent of Viagra.
On Tuesday morning, a brothel staff member went into Odom’s room to check on him and found him unconscious. Mucus was found coming out of his nose and mouth, and Odom remained unconscious. He was transferred to a hospital, and his exact condition has not been confirmed.
Here are the highlights from a particularly good game Odom had for the Heat against the Kings back in 2004.
