Just the sight of Lamar Odom, standing a massive 6’10” tall, is enough to stop anyone in their tracks. Seeing him dominate a basketball court at virtually any position – dishing a show-stopping, no-look pass, knocking down a 26-foot jumper, snatching a rebound or throwing down a one-handed tomahawk jam – is enough to leave the most seasoned NBA fan slack-jawed in wonder. To be recognized as one of the most versatile player’s in the NBA is one of the accomplishment’s Lamar Odom has achieved. But when he begins to speak – when he begins to tell you his roller-coaster tale of staggering hoops success, heart-wrenching personal losses, and remarkable persistence – it’s really then that you begin to glimpse the remarkable life that 28 year-old Lamar Odom has led and what he is accomplishing for others.
Born on November 6, 1979, Lamar Odom, like the rapper 50 Cent, grew up in South Jamaica, Queens, an area of New York City ravaged by the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980’s and 90’s. Drug deals took place literally feet from the steps of his childhood home. “Any time you see these inner city kids in the NBA, as well as these kids from Detroit and California,” he said, “you’ve got to understand that their background wasn’t peaches and cream”.
During his early childhood, Lamar was raised by his mother, Cathy Mercer. A corrections and traffic officer, Cathy worked hard to provide for her son, never letting the relentless challenges of single-motherhood affect her. “She was really outgoing, the light in everybody’s eye,” he said. “The life of the party. People loved her. A lot of my personality, the way I deal with people, it’s definitely through her”. Tragically, Cathy Mercer succumbed to colon cancer when Lamar was only 12. “She taught me all the little things that I stand for, the things that in today’s world get overlooked, as far as family, trying to put back into your neighborhood,” he said. “Being spiritual, believing in God. Having principles, and morals, and treating people the right way. Respecting people so you can earn respect”.
While Lamar was developing as a person, he was also developing as a basketball player. He had loved the game since he was first introduced to it, and from as early as seven years old, saw himself playing in the NBA one day. His path evolved until one day it came true.
His Basketball Career Begins
Lamar was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the fourth pick in the 1999 NBA draft. At the time, the Clippers were defined more by losing than anything else, but Lamar was optimistic about his new team. Within three seasons of Lamar’s arrival, Los Angeles went from the dregs of the NBA to contending for a playoff spot and wowing crowds with an electric style of basketball.
“With Darius Miles coming, and Elton Brand coming, we were like the hip-hop babies of the NBA,” he remembered. “You saw the jerseys everywhere.” While his tenure with the Clippers was marked by moments of brilliance, Lamar’s career with Los Angeles was marred by injuries and off-the-court troubles. Far from the guidance of his family, he lived like “a 19 year-old rock star,” failing to do what was necessary to realize his vast potential as a player and a person.
When another injury shortened the 2002-2003 season for Lamar, he knew that it was time to make significant changes in his life. That realization was brought home starkly when his grandmother, who raised him from age 12 on, passed away in June 2003.
The opportunity for a new start came with the Miami Heat, who offered the then free agent a $63 million contract that the Clippers refused to match. Lamar would be playing for Pat Riley, who – ironically – had tried and failed to draft him in 1999.
“He was one of the most unique players that I have ever seen,” said Riley. “He had great speed; he was a great passer with an incredible seven-foot wingspan. He also had the ability to handle the basketball. He just reminded me of Earvin Magic Johnson. In fact, he is the only player to come into this league that had the ability to play like Earvin. So I was very excited about the possibilities of getting him and we did in fact consummate a trade that didn’t go through, but was agreed upon, the night of the draft, that wasn’t followed through on by another team. Or we would have had him. But I always felt that he was a great player.” The change affected Lamar in ways he never imagined – all of which he credited to Coach Riley.
Lamar followed up the 2003-2004 season with what he considers his greatest honor to date: representing the United States in the Athens Olympics.
Back to LA
In the summer of 2004, after a single season in Miami, Lamar, Caron Butler and Brian Grant were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Shaquille O’Neal. For Lamar, the move was a shock. He was coming off arguably his best season as a pro. For the first time in his career, he was in a place where he felt he belonged. Suddenly, it was gone.
To make matters even more trying, his first year with Los Angeles was marked by upheaval. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich retired midway through the season. Lamar endured a freak shoulder injury that sent him to the sidelines for two months.
But with the arrival of Phil Jackson the following year, Lamar settled into his new home, and slowly found his niche. By the 2005-2006 season, he was in a basketball groove with his new teammate, Kobe Bryant. In the opening round of the playoffs, Lamar took his game to new levels, averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Lakers came within a single basket of eliminating the Phoenix Suns. “He’s a dominant, dominant player,” said Bryant. “I think his versatility is what sets him apart. Being his size, and being able to handle, shoot, pass. And from a leadership standpoint, being able to keep the guys in good rhythm, good emotion, that sort of thing. I’m sort of the taskmaster, so to speak. He’s kind of eases things down a bit.
Tragic Loss
Coming off the success of previous year, the 2006-2007 season promised to be Lamar’s best to date. Instead, for the third time in his 28 years, he suffered another devastating personal tragedy: the crib death of his seven month-old son, Jayden, in June 2006. By a strange twist of fate, it was the same day his grandmother had died three years before.
“It’s so unexpected – eight months old, healthy,” he said. “I don’t think nothing could prepare you. It’s just one of those things that’s just out of your hands. Sometimes you’ve just got to accept it as God’s work”. For a time, Lamar seriously considered quitting basketball.
Odom who is always well spoken in his interviews, was very open with the tragic loss of his infant in 2006, showing his honest emotions in candid interviews and showing his tattoo of his son on his chest over his heart. “I spent a lot of time by myself, just thinking,” he said. “I kind of needed it. I really had to be strong for my family. It really hit my family really, really hard”.
Out of Pain, Creativity Emerges
He turned his energies to other endeavors, immersing himself in his record label, Rich Soil Entertainment, and the career of its featured artist, childhood friend, Ali Vegas.. He also started a new line of Christian-themed apparel, Son of Man. “Those are two of the things that kept me going, kept me focused, kept me positive,” he explained, “so I wouldn’t have to ask myself why”.
When training camp began, and Lamar finally returned to basketball, he found himself welcoming the comradery of his teammates and coaches. He also allowed himself to mourn for the first time, and to try to move on, his son not only in his heart, but literally tattooed upon it. His mother’s face – his only other tattoo – adorns his back. “It’s given me so much strength,” he explained. “It’s helped me on the court. Mentally, I’m so much tougher. There’s nothing that I can’t get past. I keep the little [guy] with me everywhere I go.”
Despite these tragedies, Odom continues to hold a positive outlook, never asking why, but moving forward and becoming a stronger person. He always keeps a mentality of how he can give back or use these life experiences to encourage his game whether it be on the court or in the recording studio. Odom hopes to be the pioneer to successfully be in both NBA and the music and fashion industry, or to “P-Diddy it” in Odom’s own words.
Giving Back
Today, Lamar Odom is a man on the rise. He continues to shine on the basketball court, as an entrepreneur, and as a father to his children, Destiny and Lamar Jr. In 2004, in honor of his mother, he started Cathy’s Kids, a foundation aimed at helping urban youths get opportunities he never had. All the while, he has not forgotten where he came from. It was developed as a means for Lamar to streamline all his charitable efforts and focus on making a positive impact on the lives of under-privileged children, Lamar is focused on ensuring that funds are available for under-privileged youth that live in the inner cities of New York and Los Angeles. It is important to Lamar that young people, especially between the ages of 9-14, have the resources they need to get all the opportunities available to succeed in life.
His charitable efforts also go towards targeting the disease that has played a significant role in his life, cancer. Lamar lost his mother to stomach cancer and subsequently is committed to help causes that are focused on finding a cure and helping people who suffer from the disease.
This year at the MTV Music Awards, Lamar was named one of the best dressed males along with P. Diddy. Although he made his name playing basketball, Lamar’s taste and love for music compelled him to establish the Rich Soil music label. The future of Rich Soil is within music and entertainment culture, and the first act under the Rich Soil banner is one of hip-hop’s most lyrical emcees, Ali Vegas. Like Lamar, Ali was also raised in the heart of Jamaica Queens, NY.
Lamar Odom and the LA Lakers continue their success this year landing themselves a position in the NBA finals.
Lamar was happy to share some details of his work and personal thoughts with us…
Christiana Cheon for LATP: Where do you plan to take “Cathy’s Kid Foundation” in the future? Why is this charity so dear to your heart?
Lamor Odom: Cathy’s Kid’s Foundation is how I keep feeling connected to the people in my life that I lost that are so dear to me. With Cathy’s Kid’s Foundation my goal is to have a positive impact on the lives of under-privileged children and help causes that are focused on finding a cure and helping people who suffer from cancer. Basically to give kids the opportunities I never had. This summer we will focus on reaching a lot of those kids in Los Angeles and New York through hospitals. It’s something I really put a lot of time towards in the off-season.
LATP: People say you were the best dressed at the MTV Movie Awards, and you also have your own clothing line. Has fashion been another passion of yours? Who do you get your fashion sense from?
LO: Fashion is something I definitely enjoy. I like to get creative with my style, and I think that it reflects in the line of T-shirts we have for “Son of Man” at the moment. I think I’ve established my own sense of style growing up in New York and moving out to LA. A lot of the experiences in my life have inspired my clothing line designs. The line is called Son of Man and it has a Christian theme with designs revolving around faith, hope and man.
LATP: What can we expect from your debut album Generation Gap 2: The Prequel?
LO: It’s definitely something new and fresh. Ali Vegas is a very talented artist. The album will hit stores in August featuring production from DJ Premier, Scott Storch, Cool & Dre, and Midi Mafia with appearances from Akon, Styles P and singer Deemi. One of my focuses was to get Ali Vegas the best music because that seems to be what captures people’s ear automatically. And [I’ll] just let Veg do the rest. He’s playing at a high skill level. The faith that we got in him is just… I mean I think he could take off right where Jay-Z and Nas left off. I think he’s that talented.”
LATP: Having grown up in NY, how does it feel to be a part of LA Lakers? Do you see yourself staying long term with the Lakers?
LO: I love being a part of LA. It’s home to me. We’ve grown a lot together as a team, especially this season. I definitely see myself a part of the Lakers for a long time.
LATP: Your life in itself is such a huge inspiration to so many people out there. What advice would you give to people who come from a similar background of limited opportunities, when it comes to fulfilling their dreams?
LO: Never stop believing. I think anything is possible when you’re focused and know what you want in life. Not being afraid to fail is something that’s important when you want to fulfill your dreams.
