For years, Lamar Odom was known as one of the most versatile players in the NBA, racking up two championship titles, Sixth Man of the Year honors and acting as a key figure in the success of the Los Angeles Lakers during their late-2000s title runs. Beyond the accolades and highlight reels, Odom’s life has been marked by a highly publicized battle with addiction and health challenges that nearly cost him his life. Over a decade ago, the former NBA star made headlines around the world after suffering a near-fatal drug overdose at a Nevada brothel. This incident left him fighting for survival in a coma. What followed was a long and uncertain recovery that included multiple strokes, kidney failure and extensive rehabilitation. Now, with the release of the Netflix documentary Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, fans are learning more behind-the-scenes details about Odom’s life than ever before.
When did Lamar Odom overdose?
Fans will surely recall Lamar Odom’s tumultuous career during the mid-2010s. At this time, his marriage with Khloé Kardashian was on the rocks, his private life was becoming increasingly public, and his struggle with drugs and alcohol was becoming impossible to manage. One key turning point in Odom’s addiction journey came in 2012, when he was kicked off the Dallas Mavericks and joined the Clippers.
As Khloé explained in Untold, this placed massive stress on the NBA baller, leading to major spiraling. “Whenever the Clippers’ season ended, he spiraled again and did crazy drugs. He overdosed a few times. I had to pump his stomach,” she stated. Khloé would go on to explain, “We had at-home detox centers. We did everything we could.”
In August of 2013, the Kardashians staged an intervention and demanded Odom go to rehab for three months. Instead, he packed his bags and left home, demanding a divorce. In October 2015, Lamar Odom suffered a near-fatal overdose, just as the divorce was awaiting final legal approval. He reportedly suffered brain damage, leading to a cascading series of strokes and heart failures.
He was patronizing a Las Vegas brothel at the time of the emergency, and remained in a coma at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center before eventually transferring to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles by helicopter.
How long was Lamar Odom in a coma?
Lamar Odom was in a coma for over four days following his overdose. During this time, Khloé Kardashian appeared at the hospital as his medical proxy. According to Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, there were numerous shady characters visiting the hospital as well, including drug dealers looking to score cash from the catatonic NBA star. Invasive paparazzi also swarmed, eventually forcing Kardashian to place an entire hospital floor on lockdown. This included personally vetting visitors, checking the pockets of everyone who came in or out and forcing everyone involved to sign non-disclosure agreements.
While reflecting on the harrowing experience, Kardashian revealed that one of her closest and most trusted confidants during the time was Odom’s former teammate Kobe Bryant. Bryant flew into Las Vegas while Odom was unconscious to coach Kardashian through some of the tough decisions, including a risky collapsed lung operation that ultimately saved Lamar’s life. Once he woke up from the coma, that was just the beginning of Lamar Odom’s path to recovery. The following years would continue to be an uphill battle as he worked to wrangle his personal demons.
What did the Netflix Untold documentary reveal?
Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom revealed a wide array of new information. Some of the most shocking discoveries include a postmortem of Odom’s relationship with the Kardashian family, his affection for the spotlight and how his drug abuse impacted his children. Notably, Odom’s family skipped his wedding ceremony with Khloé Kardashian, with many of them telling the Netflix series, “I really thought he was joking.” Odom and Kardashian’s whirlwind romance began just a few months before they tied the knot, so many of Odom’s close friends and family believed he wouldn’t actually get married so soon. The doc also revealed just how much Lamar pushed for reality TV cameras in his personal life, with his daughter, Destiny Odom, stating, “He did love Khloé, but he wanted to be on reality TV for a long time.”
The Untold installment also confirms a few things that fans have long speculated about. Odom’s addiction worsened during the time he spent on the Dallas Mavericks, which is a key point in the special, while his children make scattered appearances to describe times they feared for Lamar’s life.
Is Lamar Odom sober?
As of March 2026, Lamar Odom is stated to be fully sober. USA Today reports that he recently celebrated 60 days without alcohol, drugs or marijuana, sparking a desire to push his recovery to the next level. His most recent controversy regarding drugs or alcohol came in January, when he was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Las Vegas. Since then, Odom has completed a 30-day rehabilitation program and restated his commitment to a drug and alcohol free life. Of course, any addict will tell you that the process of getting sober and staying sober is an everyday struggle. As Lamar enters this next chapter, it will take a great deal of willpower and support to remain on the up and up.
In Untold, Lamar Odom expounded upon a dream that pushed him to do better. As he explained, he saw the late Kobe Bryant come to him and promise that “The afterlife is not what people make it out to be.” After communing with the departed champion, Lamar concurred that “right now is go mode,” prompting him to turn over a new leaf and eliminate his dependency on alcohol and drugs.
Where is Lamar Odom now?
Today, Lamar Odom is actively working on his sobriety. With over 60 days sober at the time of this writing, some of the hardest days may be behind him, as long as he can keep his head held high. Odom now owns and operates the Odom Wellness Treatment Center in California, and has even ventured into a budding podcasting career with Caitlyn Jenner. With any luck, this could be the start of a bold new career for the NBA legend, following in the footsteps of other pro-ballers who have made massive media pivots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Lamar and Khloe still talk?
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have been in contact as recently as 2025, according to E! News. At the time, she described their first meet-up in nearly a decade as “emotionally draining.” Kardashian added, “I’m not opposed to ever meeting up with him again in maybe a more private setting.”
Did Lamar Odom’s son pass away?
Odom tragically lost his son, Jayden, in 2006 as a result of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), per TV Insider.
The post Lamar Odom: The Untold Health Timeline – From His Overdose And Coma To Where He Is Now appeared first on Blavity.
