Lamar Odom's numbers have drastically declined since his awkward departure from the Los Angeles Lakers two years ago but reasons for the 33 year old's falloff may not be completely age related.
The forward has had a problem with hard core drug abuse over the past two years that has led to the deterioration of his marriage to celebrity Khloe Kardashian TMZ reports.
Lamar Odom's wife Khloe Kardashian is more concerned about saving the NBA star's life than their marriage a source tells TMZ. (AP Photo)MORE Lakers' black uniforms Why Iverson wouldn't practice LeBron's top three
Kardashian reportedly insisted Odom go to rehab last August and even hired investigators to stand guard 24/7 at a facility in San Diego to ensure he didn't try to leave.
According to the report Odom spent three weeks in the rehab facility and was clean throughout last season with the Los Angeles Clippers but started using hardcore recreational drugs again once the Clippers were eliminated.
The Kardashian family held an intervention with Odom this week in an attempt to convince the NBA star to return to rehab but Odom didn't cooperate sources told TMZ.
Odom revealed in April of 2011 that his father Joe is a heroin addict.
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Odom became the first Laker to win the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award after the 2010 11 season averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. But his summer went into a spiral from there.
Odom had a difficult offseason in 2011. A beloved cousin died he was a passenger in a car wreck that killed a teenage cyclist and he eventually requested a trade from the Lakers after an original attempt to move him as part of a package for Chris Paul was vetoed by the NBA.
The Dallas Mavericks picked up the former NBA champion but he mysteriously left the team for 10 days in the middle of the season. Odom was benched due to the absence combined with poor performance on the court.
Odom's numbers have plummeted in almost every statistical category the past two seasons. Last year he averaged 4.0 points per game after averaging 6.6 two years ago with the Mavericks.
The Clippers and new head coach Doc Rivers are reportedly working to re sign Odom now a free agent.
The Clippers selected Odom fourth overall in the 1999 NBA draft. He scored 30 points in his NBA debut and was named to the NBA All Rookie first team in 2000.
Odom won two championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
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