Former NBA star Lamar Odom pawned his two NBA championship rings after a near-fatal drug overdose in 2015. He’s doing better now, and as faith has it, he’s also got his rings back thanks to a generous Lakers fan he met at a game in October.
“God is good, and I wanted to tell you a little story to tell you how good he is,” Odom said on his new “On the Lo” podcast.
Odom played for four different teams during his NBA career, including the Lakers from 2004 to 2011. He was part of the 2009 and 2010 championship teams with Kobe Bryant.
But life hasn’t always been good for Odom. In October 2015, Odom ended up unconscious in a Las Vegas brothel from an “unholy concoction of cocaine, brandy and cannabis”. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was in very serious condition. He suffered 12 seizures and six strokes, and his heart stopped twice.
Medical bills were high and Odom found himself in dire straits.
“Long story short, there was a time when I woke up from a coma, I checked my account and my shit was like a double zero and I kinda freaked out… I put (the rings) up for sale auction,” Odom said. “It hurt me to even say that. So whatever, I set them up, put the money in my pocket, used it. I made some use of it. I think that money even kind of helped me get back here but it was embarrassing for me to do that.”
Odom said his mind was “in the wrong place” when he dropped his rings. According to TMZ, someone bought them at an auction in 2020 for $36,600 and $78,000.
He eventually returned to Los Angeles and made contact with the Lakers, who helped him secure good tickets. During their Oct. 20 home opener against the Clippers, someone recognized the familiar face of Odom.
“I walk up and see a guy sitting right next to us. Let’s call him Franz for now. Dude Franz, he’s like, ‘Yo, Lamar, I bought your rings,'” he said. told Odom. “I was like, ‘Oh, shit,’ because at this point I’m still embarrassed.”
Franz told him to go get his rings, and when Odom stopped by, Franz gave them to him without asking for anything in return.
“I think that shows you how serious Lakers fans are,” Odom said.
