Lamar Odom is currently 46 years old. Born on November 6, 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, he’s at a point in his life that honestly feels like a second act nobody saw coming. Most people remember him as the versatile 6'10" forward who could handle the ball like a point guard for the Lakers, or maybe they just know him from the tabloid headlines during his marriage to Khloé Kardashian.
But Lamar Odom age is more than just a number on a basketball card. It represents a timeline of extreme survival. If you look at where he was a decade ago—clinging to life in a Las Vegas hospital—and where he is now, the fact that he's reaching his late 40s is nothing short of a miracle.
The Timeline of a Queens Legend
He wasn't always the "Candy Man" with two NBA rings. Lamar's story starts in New York, and it wasn't easy. He lost his mother to colon cancer when he was only 12. His father struggled with addiction. By the time he was a teenager, basketball was his only real escape.
He was a phenom. People in the late 90s were comparing him to Magic Johnson because of his size and vision. He bounced around high schools—Christ the King, Redemption Christian Academy—basically trying to keep his grades up enough to stay on the court.
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- 1999: Drafted 4th overall by the Clippers at age 19.
- 2004: Traded to the Lakers, where he eventually became the glue guy for Kobe Bryant's championship runs.
- 2009 & 2010: Back-to-back NBA Championships.
- 2011: Wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year at age 31.
It's weird to think about, but at 31, he was at the absolute peak of his professional powers. Then, the trade to Dallas happened. Everything kinda fell apart after that.
Surviving the 30s: A Near-Fatal Decade
When we talk about Lamar Odom age, we have to talk about 2015. He was 35 years old. That was the year he was found unconscious at the Love Ranch brothel in Nevada.
Twelve strokes. Six heart attacks. He was in a coma, and the world was essentially waiting for an obituary. Doctors didn't think he'd walk or talk again. But he did. Honestly, his recovery is one of the most baffling things in sports medicine. By the time he hit 40, he wasn't just walking; he was competing on Dancing with the Stars and playing in the BIG3 league.
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What Lamar Odom is Doing at 46
Today, Lamar isn't just sitting on his couch reflecting on the "good old days" with Kobe. He's remarkably busy. He’s moved into a phase of life where he’s trying to fix the mistakes he made as a younger man.
The Odom Recovery Group
He’s leveraged his own history with substance abuse to start the Odom Recovery Group. He’s basically buying into rehab centers and detox facilities to help others get clean. It’s a full-circle moment. He knows the dark side of celebrity and addiction better than almost anyone, so he has this weird, raw credibility that a doctor in a lab coat just doesn't have.
The Killeen Project
Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about him in Texas. In 2025, he made headlines for wanting to open a school in Killeen—the Lamar Odom Academy. He wants it to be a K-12 school focused on sports, science, and technology. There’s even been talk of him running for mayor of Killeen. It sounds wild, right? A former Laker in Central Texas politics? But that’s Lamar. He’s always been unpredictable.
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Addressing the Net Worth Rumors
You'll see a lot of sites claiming his net worth is exactly $30 million. Take that with a grain of salt. While he made over $115 million in NBA salary alone, his medical bills, legal issues, and previous lifestyle took a massive chunk out of that. However, his recent business ventures in senior living and dental care suggest he’s rebuilding his wealth in a much more sustainable way than during his "Candy Man" era.
Why His Current Age Matters for His Legacy
Most NBA players hit 46 and they’re just "former players." Lamar is different. He’s become a symbol of resilience. He’s vocal about his mental health, his past mistakes, and his ongoing recovery.
He’s admitted to using a prosthetic device to pass drug tests for the Olympics back in the day. He’s talked about his gambling addictions. He’s told the truth even when it makes him look bad. That’s why people still follow him. At 46, he’s finally the "initiator" of his own life, not just a player in someone else’s reality show.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you’re looking at Lamar Odom’s journey as a blueprint, here’s what’s actually happening:
- Health is the Priority: After 12 strokes, he has to be incredibly careful. He’s stayed physically active, which has been key to his cognitive recovery.
- Business Diversification: He isn't just a "face" for brands. He's actually investing in sectors like affordable senior housing and addiction recovery.
- Community Impact: His move to Texas shows a desire to build a legacy that isn't tied to the bright lights of Los Angeles or the shadow of the Kardashians.
The next step for anyone following Lamar’s story is to look at his Odom Recovery Group initiatives. Whether you’re a fan of his basketball career or just someone who loves a comeback story, his work in the addiction space is where his real impact is happening now. Keep an eye on the Lamar Odom Academy developments in Killeen; if he pulls that off, it’ll be his biggest win since the 2010 Finals.