Is Lamar Odom out of a job? With all of his personal and marital problems that are happening right now, it looks as though Odom may not have his career that he has worked so hard for anymore.
Odom has been all over the news lately, with rumors circulating from severe drug abuse, a near divorce from his wife Khloe Kardashian, and being “missing” for over 72 hours. It makes you question whether Odom has to much baggage to land a contract with another NBA team.
“There’s an old saying in the NBA: Are you more valuable than your problems? And it’s just reached the point with Lamar where he is not more valuable than his problems,” says an NBA insider. “Up until about two years ago, Lamar Odom was averaging about 15 points and eight rebounds a game and you know what? You deal with his off-court problems for that. When Lamar Odom averages four points a game, he’s not worth the problems.”
As of July 1, 2013, Odom was officially off of the Los Angeles Clipper’s roster and his contract had ended, confirms the director of communications for the team, Seth Burton.
“It’s almost Labor Day weekend and players are starting to return to their teams, and Lamar doesn’t have a team,” says an NBA insider who knows Odom. “He’s gone from making $8.5 million last year to being out of work at this point.”
A source close to Odom says that he is focusing on trying to save his marriage and is putting his priorities in order. “Really, basketball’s not even on Lamar’s mind. He’s got bigger issues now, bigger than playing basketball. How can he even think about that when his life is not right. Priorities comes and instead of having the basketball in both his hands, he needs to have a tight grip on his life and these issues he’s been having. That’s where is head is and I think it’s a good thing.”
Kardashian has said that she will stand by her husband during this difficult time in their lives. “She never left him to begin with [and] she’s not going to,” the source adds. “She doesn’t want to see him in pain and she doesn’t want to live in pain either. This is a struggle for both of them, not just Lamar.”
Friends and fans of Odom are supporting him and wishing him the best via twitter.
I wish my friend @RealLamarOdom is doing well. All these rumors are really worrying me. Lamar is one of the best guys I've ever played with.
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 27, 2013
I hope my man and former Laker, Lamar Odom is doing okay.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 26, 2013
Image via Twitter