Former Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom says he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol or narcotics when Las Vegas authorities arrested him for drunk driving over the weekend.
The Queens-born power forward — long plagued by substance abuse issues and at least one related run-in with the law — didn’t share what, if anything, he’d taken anything prior to his latest arrest, but told TMZ on Tuesday that neither booze nor narcotics played a role.
Odom, 46, was booked Saturday for driving under the influence and two traffic violations after police say he was caught going more than 40 miles per hour over the speed limit and improperly changing lanes.
“I am learning from this experience and remain committed to my continued growth,” Odom said. “I’ve worked hard to rebuild my life, and taking responsibility is an essential part of that process.”
The Los Angeles Clippers alum thanked his supporters and said he’s “cooperating fully, staying honest, and [is] focused on moving forward with integrity.”
Jail records obtained by Us Weekly show that Odom posted bail and is slated to appear in court on March 17.
Odom was previously busted for DUI in August 2013 after driving in a “serpentine manner” on Los Angeles’ 101 Freeway, less than a week after he was involved in a multi-vehicle collision on the same roadway. That arrest, during which Odom reportedly showed “objective signs of intoxication,” occurred during his marriage Khloé Kardashian — a union that ended with divorce in 2016.
A week after the arrest, People reported that Odom, who was suffering from a crack-cocaine addiction at the time, checked into a rehab center, only to check himself out one day later.
In 2015, Odom was at a Nevada brothel when he infamously overdosed on what his 2019 memoir described as “an unholy concoction of cocaine, cognac and cannabis.” The overdose left Odom in a days-long coma. He remained in the hospital for the better part of three months.
“My heart stopped twice. I had 12 seizures and six strokes. My lungs collapsed and my kidneys ruptured. I was on life support,” Odom wrote in “Darkness to Light.”
