Former NBA champion Lamar Odom is once again in the public spotlight after a troubling incident in Las Vegas. He was taken into custody early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The 46-year-old, who previously played for teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, was also cited for two additional traffic violations. These included speeding at more than 40 miles per hour above the posted limit, according to reports. Odom is scheduled to appear in court on March 17.
Odom’s life has been defined by both extraordinary professional success and deeply personal struggles. Over a 14-season NBA career, he also featured for the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Dallas Mavericks. His peak years came with the Lakers. During that period, he won back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010. He also earned recognition as one of the league’s most versatile players.
Lamar Odom has been arrested in Las Vegas … TMZ has learned.
Read more: https://t.co/aO8SqCuRMI pic.twitter.com/gWN3GwVLLu
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 18, 2026Away from the court, Odom’s personal life drew intense media attention following his marriage to reality TV star Khloé Kardashian in 2009. The relationship ended in 2013. Odom later acknowledged that substance abuse played a major role in the breakdown of their marriage.
In 2015, Odom survived a near-fatal overdose at a Nevada brothel. This incident left him in a coma and on life support for several days. He later revealed that he suffered multiple seizures during the ordeal. It marked one of the darkest chapters of his life.
The father of three has since spoken candidly about his addiction. In 2024, Odom revealed that he had previously used drugs similar to those cited in the toxicology report of Liam Payne. This revelation reinforced how close his past behaviour came to tragic outcomes.
This latest arrest serves as a stark reminder that recovery from addiction is rarely linear. While Odom has achieved remarkable milestones both on and off the court, his ongoing struggles highlight the persistent challenges faced by those battling substance dependence.
