Lamar Odom

 Lamar Joseph Odom, born on November 6, 1979 was an American professional basketball player who played professionally for a time. Odom was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was a champion in 2010 and 2009 the year 2011. In addition, he was recognized as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in the year 2011. At the age of 16, Odom was awarded Parade's National Player of the Year award in 1997. Odom was a college basketball player at the University of Rhode Island and was named All-Conference honors during his debut season in the Atlantic 10 Conference. He later became an NBA professional. Odom was the fourth pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Odom was named for the NBA All-Rookie Team the next year. But it was during his four years with the Clippers that Odom was removed twice from the team for violating their anti-drug policy. Odom signed as an restricted-free agent for the Miami Heat and played the 2003-04 season before being transferred to the Los Angeles Clippers. Odom played for seven seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. His career slowed down following the trade. His career slowed down when he was traded to the Clippers in 2012. He also played for a brief time in Spain in 2014. Odom was married to Khloe Kardashian in 2009 and 2016. Odom and Khloe Kardashian got engaged from 2009 until 2016. Odom and Kardashian also had their own reality series, Khloe & Lamar. Odom was discovered unconscious in the Nevada brothel, and later admitted to a hospital in a in a coma. Odom was treated for addiction to drugs and alcohol at a later time in his life. Odom was born in South Jamaica to Joe Odom, Queens, New York City. The father of Joe was a heroin addict. At the age of twelve years old, his mother passed away of colon cancer. The report says that his mother told his deathbed that she would "Be gentle to everyone." Mildred Mercer was Odom's maternal grandmother. She was his mother. Odom attended Christ the King Regional High School, Middle Village, Queens for his initial three years. Odom quit the school during his senior year due to low grades. After that, he was transferred to Redemption Christian Academy, Troy, New York and then to St. Thomas Aquinas High School, New Britain, Connecticut. Jerry DeGregorio was his coach. Odom was the Parade Player of the year 1997, as an alumnus. 11. Odom was named the Parade Player of the Year for 1997 when he was an senior. He also received USA Today All-USA First Team distinctions in the midst of high school. Sonny Vaccaro, an Adidas executive, claimed that Odom was a millionaire with an estimated $2 million smile as well as an academic career at the college level. Odom considered going directly to the NBA after high school, but decided he wasn't prepared for that, and decided to attend the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Sports Illustrated reported that Odom's ACT score was not valid and that he was detained for prostitution solicitation. The university then revoked his scholarship. Another embarrassment for the school came after an NCAA investigation found that Odom received $5,600 in illegal payments.[17Then, UNLV was put on probation for a period of four years and coach Bill Bayno was fired. Odom was transferred to the University of Rhode Island with the cost of his room and board, which was provided by his father through the G.I. Bill. Odom did not have matriculation and therefore had to leave the 1997-98 season. [5][1919 Odom was able to be a candidate to play intramural basketball following two semesters and a summer session. Odom's college career in Rhode Island was in jeopardy when he fell short of his final game. But, coach Jim Harrick convinced three of his four teachers to allow him to keep working. Odom was also permitted to work with DeGregorio who was an assistant Rams assistant. He became the teammate of the player at college. Odom also drew inspiration from his mother who was a nurse who was in her late 60s and was the mother of five kids. Odom was an Rhode Island player for one season (1998-1999) in which the average was 17.6 points per game and helped his team win the championship of their conference. 20) He was recognized with First Team All-Conference honors, and was named Atlantic 10 Rookie-of-the-Year. After his three-pointer against Temple at the end of the game, he was named the most important Atlantic 10 player.