“There’s a couple of people who I wish were here to see it,” said an emotional Odom during the announcement of the Sixth Man of the year on Tuesday.
Odom had every right to be emotional after receiving his first major individual honor of his career, after all Odom has dealt with more tragedy than the average Sixth Man.
Those people Odom was referring to were likely a few close to him who he has lost throughout his life. When Lamar was only 12, he lost his mother to colon cancer, then another 12 years later Odom lost the grandmother who raised him.
Unfortunately for Odom death did not leave his life, as he lost his infant son, Jayden to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 2006. For Odom this was another blow, which ultimately led him to consider retirement.
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It is fitting that only one of the league’s best rebounders could bounce back from such tragedy, but Lamar did just that. While the tragedies still give him a heavy heart, Odom has since been married to Khloe Kardashian.
Odom is now making a name for himself both on and off the court teaming with his wife for a reality show and even a fragrance, proving he is just as versatile off the court as on it. Hopefully tragedy will not rear its ugly head into Odom’s life again, as Odom’s off the court success has translated into one of his best seasons.
Next: How LO went from under achiever to champion
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