Lamar Odom Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a bronze medal as a member of the 2004 Olympic men's basketball team
• Named Player of the Year in 1997 by Parade Magazine
• Named an All-American 1st Team Player by USA Today in 1997
• Initially planned to play basketball for UNLV, but left after several legal issues arose and transferred to the University of Rhode Island
• Raised by his grandmother since childhood, as his mother died of cancer when he was 12 years old and his father was a heroin addict
• Gained widespread recognition with fans outside of the sports world after marrying now ex-wife Khloe Kardashian in 2009 and appearing on her numerous reality programs
• Selected as the fourth overall pick of the 1999 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers
• Quote: "We're all products of our environment․ The key is not to fall․"
• After signing with the Miami Heat for only a year, returned to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers in 2004
• Played seven seasons with the Lakers, earning two NBA championships while averaging close to 10 points-per-game each season, before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011