Lamar Odom has been sober for “56 or 57 days,” the former NBA star exclusively tells Page Six.
“No alcohol, no pot, no marijuana. And I’m still growing mentally and spiritually. I’m striving to be the best version of myself and living the Mamba spirit that was passed down to me by my late brother (Kobe Bryant).”
Odom, 46, is reflecting on his near-fatal drug overdose in 2015 for a new Netflix documentary, “Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom.” Premiering Tuesday on Netflix, the doc explores the former NBA player’s career, marriage to Khloé Kardashian, drug addiction and coma after an overdose at a Nevada brothel in 2015.
The documentary features how Bryant, who died at age 41 in a 2020 helicopter crash, rushed to visit Odom while he was in the hospital.
Odom said he was not aware of Bryant’s presence at the time because he was in a coma. “But knowing he was there…looking back on it now, I think that’s probably what got me through, because of the love I was getting from everyone. It’s always good to have support, and of course the support from my brothers.”
“I’m not the same person. I’m doing everything I can to maintain my sobriety,” the former Laker told Page Six, though he reflects on his use of drugs such as cocaine and crack, which he talks about on screen in the doc.
She added that it would be “easy” to “backtrack” and “call the guy who once delivered marijuana to me.” But I’ve come too far to take a step back,” said the former athlete.
“If I take a step back, I…I’ll die. I want to live as long as Moses.”
Even after the 2015 incident, Odom’s road to sobriety was difficult. In January, he was arrested for drunk driving in Las Vegas.
He recently told us: “I’m reading more books (and) trying to sharpen my brain. When I woke up[from a coma in 2015]they said I’d never walk or talk again… so every day is a blessing.”
The former reality TV star, who graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain, Conn., describes himself as “an eighth-grade dropout” after his mother died of cancer when he was 12 years old.
“I gave up on school,” he told Page Six at the time. He added that he had “never given his best effort” when it came to “academics” or “challenging himself in academia.”
“So I’m just trying to live my best life, practice being sober, and spread the word that being present every day is a beautiful thing.”
He says he doesn’t try to take life too seriously.
“Sometimes my sense of humor may be a little dark for other people, but I’m in a dark place in my life.”
This documentary doesn’t shy away from the ugly side of addiction. Kardashian, who also appears on the show, spoke on screen about his infidelity and how she used to clean up after him during the height of his drug addiction.
“I hope my story and my testimony will bring awareness, hope, and faith to others, giving them the strength and will to overcome the terrible brain disease that is addiction,” Odom told Page Six.
Odom is currently dating Rachel Bradley and has two adult children, Destiny, 28, and Lamar Jr., 24, with his high school sweetheart Liza Morales. He and Morales also had another son, Jaden, who died in 2006 at six months old from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
“I have so much to live for,” he says. “Whether it’s for myself, my kids, my family…I just want to focus on my relationship with God and try to educate myself as much as possible.”
“Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom” will premiere on Netflix on March 31st.
