“I loved drugs”: Lamar Odom admits drug addiction hurt his NBA Hall of Fame chances

Basketball Association (NBA), capturing two championships and earning a reputation as one of the league’s most versatile talents of his era.

Yet while Odom’s résumé includes significant on-court achievements, his post-playing narrative has often been defined by highly publicized off-court struggles — from his marriage to reality television star Khloe Kardashian to his long battle with substance abuse, including a near-fatal overdose in 2015 that forced him into intensive medical care.

Now 46, Odom has spoken candidly about how addiction shaped — and in his view, limited — what could have been a Hall of Fame career. During a recent appearance on the podcast Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady, hosted by fellow former NBA stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Odom reflected on the grip drugs had on his life, even at the height of his professional success.

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“I loved drugs. You are talking to a real addict. If I don’t have to play ball, then I don’t have responsibilities. Summertime I did drugs I ain’t gonna front. If you got caught for sniffing cocaine, that suspension is gonna be crazy. I had some great cocaine summers, though. I should be where you all are in the Hall of Fame. Off of straight talent. In an addict mind you think about how you are going to beat the system,” Odom said.

Odom’s raw admission underscored the internal battle he fought throughout his playing days — a tension between immense natural ability and destructive habits that he believes ultimately prevented him from reaching true all-time status.

“I loved drugs. You’re talking to a real addict… Summertime I did drugs I ain’t gonna front… I had some great cocaine summers.” 😳

– Lamar Odom

(🎥 @VinceAndTmac / h/t @NBA__Courtside )

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“I had people coming to me before when I made it to the NBA. I was like 13 years old, saying, ‘No doubt in my mind you will be a Hall of Famer.’ Let’s keep it real, I have a shot at a reality show in season. That meant I was playing in the games and still won Sixth Man of the Year, shooting a reality show. So I know I had the grit and makeup to do it. But I’m thinking about overall greatness and legacy, yeah, I hurt that by abusing drugs. 100 percent,” he added.

Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, Odom quickly showcased his rare skill set. At 6-foot-10 with guard-like ballhandling and passing ability, he was one of the league’s earliest prototypes of the modern positionless forward — capable of initiating offense, rebounding, and defending multiple positions.

Odom later had stints with the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, but it was during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers that he experienced the pinnacle of team success. As a key contributor off the bench, Odom helped the Lakers secure back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010. His impact was formally recognized in 2011 when he was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year — an award that highlighted his value as one of the league’s premier reserves.

Throughout his career, Odom averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, numbers that only hint at his all-around influence. Coaches and teammates often praised his basketball IQ and unselfishness, qualities that made him a vital piece on contending teams.

Still, Odom’s recent reflections reveal lingering regret. While he achieved more than most professional athletes ever do, he openly acknowledges that his ceiling was higher — and that addiction stood in the way of sustained greatness.

Today, Odom has increasingly used his platform to speak about recovery and accountability, offering insight into the mental and emotional challenges that can accompany professional sports stardom. His story serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to resilience — a reminder that even championship rings cannot shield athletes from deeply personal battles.

In revisiting his journey, Odom’s honesty adds depth to a career that was as compelling as it was complicated — one marked by brilliance, vulnerability, and hard-earned self-awareness.

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