The last two seasons have been by far the worst of Lamar Odom‘s 14-year NBA career, and we might finally know why.
Odom has been dealing with a “hardcore recreational drug” problem for two years now, according to TMZ. The issue got so bad at one point in 2012 that his wife Khloe Kardashian even forced the 33-year-old forward to enter a rehab facility in San Diego.
A drug problem might explain Odom’s terrible struggles with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2011-12 season. Odom was a huge disappointment in 52 games with the Mavericks, averaging just 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game before having a falling out with owner Mark Cuban and leaving the team late in the season.
The rehab apparently did Odom some good as he stayed clean while playing with the Los Angeles Clippers last season, according to the report — even if his numbers (4.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game) didn’t reflect any sort of significant change. Odom has reportedly fallen back into the drug habit since the end of the season, though, forcing Kardashian to kick him out of his own house until he gets clean.
Odom is currently a free agent, although the Clippers have expressed interest in re-signing him. We’ll see if this news makes them, or any team for that matter, skeptical about adding the big man.
Photo of the Day
Just a little leapfrog at the Meadowlands.
Video of the Day
Ah! The old double-fumble touchdown return. Classic!
