Last Updated on February 27, 2024
Who is Lamar Odom?
If you happen to look over the record of the NBA’s all-time leaders, you should come across the name Lamar Odom. The retired American Professional basketball player is best known for his remarkable performance on the court as a Los Angeles Lakers member.
Lamar played for several teams during his career, but he was most notably a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for a long time. After 15 years of playing in the National Basketball League, he retired in 2014 at 35.
His popularity, however, extends beyond his career as a professional basketball player. Lamar has made waves in the media with sensational headlines from being associated with his ex-wife and reality TV star Khloé Kardashian.
The pair got married a month after meeting in 2009. As a result of their shared growing popularity at the time, they started their spin-off show, Khloé & Lamar. It premiered on April 10, 2011, drawing fans, money, and popularity.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Lamar Joseph Odom |
Popular Name: | Lamar Odom |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | 6 November 1979 |
Age: | 43 years |
Parents: | Joe Odom (Father), Cathy Mercer (Mother) |
Siblings: | N/A |
Birth Place: | South Jamaica, New York, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | American |
Education: | St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Redemption Christ The King Regional High School, Rhode Island |
Marital Status: | Divorced |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Khloé Kardashian (m. 2009–2016) |
Children: | Jayden Odom, Destiny Odom, Lamar Odom Jr |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | $30 million |
Source of Wealth: | Professional Basketball player, Actor |
Height: | 6 ft 9 (2.08 m) |
Weight: | 104kg (230 lb) |
Early Life and Career Information
Lamar Joseph Odom was born in South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, on November 6, 1979, to Joe Odom and Cathy Mercer.
Unlike the average person, Lamar didn’t have a typical childhood or a typical parental experience. His father was a drug addict, and his mother died from colon cancer when he was 12. As a result, he grew up in the home of his maternal grandmother, Mildred Mercer.
His academic years weren’t so great either. Odom was transferred from one school to another owing to his bad grades. Notwithstanding, he attained the title of a star basketball player at the three high schools he attended; Christ The King Regional High School, Redemption Christian Academy, and St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
His outstanding basketball performances earned him a scholarship from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. However, following some issues regarding his American College Test score and his arrest for instigating prostitution, the institution canceled his scholarship.
Despite this, he later enrolled at the University of Rhode Island, where he decided to enter the NBA draft after one season of play between 1998 and 1999.
He had his best seasons with the Lakers, winning two NBA championships in 2009 and 2010 and receiving the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for the 2010-2011 season.
Lamar met his ex-girlfriend Liza Morales in Queens, New York, in high school. They began dating in Grade 11 and went on to have three children together. Sadly, six months after his birth, one of their children, Jayden, died unexpectedly. Morales and Odom split up in the 2000s, but they are still co-parenting Destiny and Lamar Jr.
Lamar and Khloe Kardashian got married in 2009 after a month of knowing each other. However, in 2013, Khloe filed for divorce following Odom’s drug use and infidelity.
Lamar Odom’s Net Worth
Lamar Odom is worth $30 million, the majority of which he earned by doing what he loved: playing basketball.
As a professional basketball player, the 42-year-old earned about $115 million during his time in the NBA. He earned his biggest paycheck of $14 million playing for the Lakers and acquiring a lot from deals and endorsements.
In addition, he has featured in commercials and quite a few TV shows and movies. He has also made appearances in the reality TV show, Keeping up with the Kardashians. He and Khloé Kardashian started their spin-off reality series, Khloé & Lamar, later in 2011.
Aside from that, the American player owns a music and film production company named Rich Soil Entertainment.
Lessons from the Life of Lamar Odom
Learn from your regrets and move on
“We all have regrets, but the thing is to learn from life.” ~ Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom has expressed his regrets over some of his decisions during his marriage and basketball career. He is open about the effects his cocaine and sex addiction had on his ability to prepare for basketball and, ultimately, his failed marriage to Khloe Kardashian.
One thing that has helped him get back up was his decision to learn from his mistakes and be a better person through rehab and sobriety.
Ever notice how nothing good comes from dwelling on your mistakes? Instead of nursing them, you should let yourself focus on the lessons that can be learned.
Pursue Your Passion
Lamar loved playing basketball, and he made it his primary income stream. Even though he had a rough time growing up and adapting to his school environment, he didn’t stop playing and getting better.
Life is too short to be stuck at a job that makes you question your stay there. Believe me, when you work at a job you actually love, your productivity goes from zero to a hundred. So follow your passion; it only gets better from there!