Lamar Odom Update: Teammates Send Prayers, Reflect on NBA Star's Career
Several NBA athletes and coaches have sent their prayers and support to fellow player Lamar Odom, currently unconscious and struggling for his life in a Las Vegas hospital.
The two-time NBA champion and 2011 Sixth Man of the Year was found unresponsive at a Nevada brothel on Tuesday. Odom was rushed to the hospital, where doctors determined he was suffering from several life-threatening issues due to drug use.
According to TMZ, four of Odom's organs, including his kidney, were failing. Doctors gave him a 50 percent chance of survival.
Many of Odom's former teammates and coaches were devastated to learn of his condition. Laker legend and close friend Kobe Bryant left a game when he heard the news. Reports say he has not left Odom's bedside since.
New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry spoke of Odom's past struggles.
"People don't understand. He was a good, good person that had demons," Gentry told the Los Angeles Times. "He had demons -- everybody knows that. But I just think if you take into account his whole background and how he grew up and what was there, it's not that hard to see where the demons came from. But he was a good human being, a very good person. A good person. That's what he was."
Denver Nuggets coach Brian Shaw also praised Odom's good nature.
"From being around him, he was just a great person. He was one of the nicest guys ever. He took care of a lot of people. Anytime anybody was around him, he took care of everything, he took care of everyone. He always was smiling, having a good time and he was a pleasure to coach. Whatever ends up happening, I hope that that's what people take away from him because he's really a good guy," Shaw said.
The NBA's official Twitter account wrote, "Our Thoughts & Prayers are with a dear member of the NBA Family, Lamar Odom."
Our Thoughts & Prayers are with a dear member of the NBA Family, Lamar Odom
— NBA (@NBA) October 14, 2015
NBA superstar Lebron James also sent his prayers through Instagram.
So many prayers sent up to you LO! I truly hope this isn't the last stop for you because you still have so much to give, not even to others but to yourself more importantly. Never know what someone is going through unless you're walking in their shoes. No judgement. Straight up homie! A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Oct 14, 2015 at 7:50am PDT
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