Lamar Odom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lamar Odom

Odom in 2022
Personal information
Born	(1979-11-06) November 6, 1979 (age 45) Queens, New York, U.S.
High school	Christ the King (Queens, New York) Redemption (Troy, New York) St. Thomas Aquinas (New Britain, Connecticut)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College	Rhode Island (1998–1999)
NBA Draft	1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers
Pro career	1999–2014
League	NBA
Career history
1999–2003	Los Angeles Clippers
2003–2004	Miami Heat
2004–2011	Los Angeles Lakers
2011–2012	Dallas Mavericks
2012–2013	Los Angeles Clippers
2014	Laboral Kutxa Baskonia
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (2009, 2010) NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2011) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2000) First-team All-Atlantic 10 (1999) Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP (1999) Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year (1999) Parade Player of the Year (1997) 2× First-team Parade All-American (1996, 1997)
Career NBA statistics
Points	12,781 (13.3 ppg)
Rebounds	8,059 (8.4 rpg)
Assists	3,554 (3.7 apg)
Medals Representing USA Men's Basketball Summer Olympics Bronze 2004 Athens National team FIBA World Championship Gold 2010 Turkey National team

Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6, 1979) is an American former professional basketball player. He is best known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With the Lakers, he won two championships in 2009 and 2010. He was also named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.

In high school, Odom was named the national player of the year by Parade magazine in 1997. He played one season of college basketball for the University of Rhode Island. He then entered the 1999 NBA draft, where the Los Angeles Clippers chose him with the fourth pick.

Odom played for the Clippers for four seasons before joining the Miami Heat. After one season in Miami, he was traded to the Lakers. He played seven seasons with the Lakers, which was the most successful part of his career. He later played for the Dallas Mavericks and returned to the Clippers before a short time playing in Spain.

Odom also played for the United States national team. He won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and a gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

From 2009 to 2016, Odom was married to Khloé Kardashian. He appeared on the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and had his own show called Khloé & Lamar. In October 2015, he had a serious health scare but has since recovered.

Early Life and High School

Lamar Odom was born in South Jamaica, Queens, a neighborhood in New York City. He faced challenges as a child. His mother, Cathy Mercer, died from cancer when he was 12. After her death, his grandmother, Mildred Mercer, raised him.

Odom played basketball at Christ the King Regional High School for three years. He later transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Connecticut. As a high school player, he was one of the best in the country. In 1997, he was named the Parade High School Player of the Year. He played on the same youth team as future NBA stars Elton Brand and Ron Artest (later known as Metta World Peace).

College Career at Rhode Island

Odom first planned to go to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. However, he ended up transferring to the University of Rhode Island. He had to sit out his first year but became eligible to play for the 1998–99 season.

In his only season with the Rhode Island Rams, Odom played great. He averaged 17.6 points per game and led the team to a conference championship. He was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. He also hit a game-winning three-point shot at the buzzer to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

Professional Basketball Career

Los Angeles Clippers (1999–2003)

Odom with the Clippers

Odom was chosen by the Los Angeles Clippers as the fourth pick in the 1999 NBA draft. In his first season, he averaged 16.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Odom played four seasons with the Clippers. He was a key player for the young team, but they did not make the playoffs during his time there. After the 2002–03 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Miami Heat.

Miami Heat (2003–2004)

In Miami, Odom joined a team with young star Dwyane Wade. As the team's starting power forward, Odom had a strong season. He averaged 17.1 points and a career-high 9.7 rebounds per game.

The Heat made it to the playoffs and won their first-round series against the New Orleans Hornets. They lost in the second round to the Indiana Pacers. After the season, Odom was part of a major trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers (2004–2011)

Odom in a Lakers vs Spurs game in 2007

With the Lakers, Odom became a star on a championship-winning team. In his first season, a shoulder injury caused him to miss some games. The team hired famous coach Phil Jackson the next year.

Odom was a versatile player for the Lakers. He could score, rebound, and pass the ball well. He played alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. In the 2007–08 season, the Lakers made it to the 2008 NBA Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics.

Championships and Sixth Man of the Year

Odom in 2011, when he was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year

During the 2008–09 season, Coach Phil Jackson asked Odom to become the team's sixth man. This meant he would come off the bench instead of starting. Odom accepted the new role to help the team. The Lakers went on to win the 2009 NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic, giving Odom his first championship.

The next year, Odom helped the Lakers win another title. They defeated the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals.

In the 2010–11 season, Odom had one of his best years. He averaged 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. For his excellent play as a reserve, he was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. He was the first Laker ever to win the award.

Later Career Moves

Dallas Mavericks and Return to the Clippers

In 2011, Odom was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He played one season in Dallas. His performance was not as strong as it had been with the Lakers.

The next year, he was traded back to the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2012–13 season. He played in all 82 games, mostly as a reserve. The Clippers had a successful season, winning their first-ever division title.

Playing in Spain

In 2014, Odom signed a short-term contract to play for Laboral Kutxa Baskonia in Spain. However, a back injury cut his time there short. He returned to the United States after playing in only two games.

National Team Career

Chauncey Billups (left) and Odom holding the 2010 FIBA World Championship trophy

Odom represented the United States in international basketball. He played on the 2004 Olympic team in Athens, Greece. The team won a bronze medal.

In 2010, he played for the U.S. team at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey. He was a veteran leader on a young team and helped them win the gold medal. Odom became the first player to win an NBA championship and a FIBA gold medal in the same year.

Player Profile

Odom was known for his positive attitude and for being a great teammate. At 6 feet 10 inches tall, he had the skills of a smaller player. He could handle the ball, run the offense, and shoot from outside.

He was a very unselfish player who always put the team first. He was happy to play a supporting role next to other stars. Even when he was a reserve on the Lakers, he was often on the court at the end of important games.

Personal Life

Odom has two children, Destiny and Lamar Jr., with his former girlfriend Liza Morales. Their third child, Jayden, died as an infant in 2006.

In 2009, Odom married Khloé Kardashian. Their life together was shown on TV, which made Odom famous to people outside of basketball. They divorced in 2016.

In 2015, Odom had a major health emergency and was hospitalized. He made a full recovery. He has since spoken about his health and recovery, calling himself a "walking miracle."

Odom has been involved in business and entertainment. He appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2022. He also participated in celebrity boxing matches.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Lamar Odom para niños