At a Glance
- Lamar Odom, 46, was arrested early Saturday, Jan. 17, in Las Vegas on DUI and two traffic violations
- Court records show he was allegedly driving 41+ mph over the speed limit and made an improper lane change
- The former Lakers star has a prior 2013 DUI in California and has publicly battled substance abuse
- Why it matters: Odom’s ongoing legal troubles spotlight the challenges athletes face after addiction recovery
Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom was arrested in Las Vegas and charged with driving under the influence, court records show. The 46-year-old NBA alum was taken into custody early on Saturday, Jan. 17, and also cited for two traffic violations.
According to the documents, Odom is accused of traveling more than 41 miles per hour above the posted limit and either making an improper lane change or failing to maintain his lane. Marcus L. Bennett reported the details for News Of Los Angeles, noting that TMZ first broke the story.
As of noon local time, Odom remained in custody, TMZ added.
Prior DUI and Substance Struggles
This is not Odom’s first run-in with the law over impaired driving. In 2013 he was arrested for DUI in California and later reached a plea agreement that placed him on three years of probation. He also agreed to complete a three-month alcohol-education program and paid $1,800 in fines and penalties.
Weeks after that arrest, sources confirmed to News Of Los Angeles that Odom had checked himself into a drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation center.
Odom has spoken candidly about his long battle with addiction. In his 2019 memoir Darkness to Light, he described the near-fatal overdose he suffered in 2015 at a Las Vegas brothel after using cocaine, alcohol, and cannabis.
“My heart stopped twice,” he wrote. “I had twelve seizures and six strokes. My lungs collapsed and my kidneys ruptured. I was on life support. Everyone I’d ever loved was looking at me through bleary eyes.”
Following the incident, Odom was transferred to a Los Angeles hospital, where he stayed until January 2016. In the book he stated the experience convinced him to get sober.
Court Date Set for March
Odom is scheduled to appear in a Nevada courtroom on March 17 to answer the new charges.
The two-time NBA champion was married to reality star Khloé Kardashian and has three children with ex-partner Liza Morales: Lamar Jr., Destiny, and Jayden, who died at six months old in 2006 from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
