Lakers News: Lamar Odom Reveals Kobe Bryant’s Impact on His Gambling Recovery

Nelson Espinal | Jun 19, 2025

Nov 2, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers players (from left) Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Steve Blake, and Ron Artest watch on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Grizzlies 124-105. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom opened up about the impact that the legendary Kobe Bryant had on his gambling addiction.

Odom grew up in a troubled home, and those troubles seeped into his personal life, leading to several different vices in his life.

He is a recovering drug addict who went through a life-threatening overdose a couple of years back, which left him in a coma, though he managed to survive somehow.

While his drug problems got a lot of coverage, the Laker fan favorite also dealt with a serious gambling addiction, which threatened his livelihood until the Black Mamba arrived to lend a hand.

Bryant got Odom out of trouble and believed in him, helping him through one of many tough periods in life.

Odom did an interview on All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, where he explained how much it meant for Bryant to help out amid the gambling problems.

"I had been gambling. It got a little too steep for where I was at at that time," Odom said on the podcast.

"If you are in a bad situation, especially about some money, he ain't the one that you're going to want to call.

"Maybe if you have a way to work off the money or you don't say or just to hold something, you ain't gonna want that. One time, I gathered up the strength, put my pride to the side, and gave him a call."

Bryant, like the tough cookie that he was, gave Odom a lecture on his addiction, giving him tough love and calling him out.

After he gave his two cents, Bryant didn't hesitate to help.

"After he went in, he was just like, 'Have your people call my people, and we'll figure it out,' " Odom said. "That was one before the last time that I spoke to him."

Odom's story is one of many about Kobe Bryant's willingness to help out his teammates and those around him.

Through the tough-guy persona he showed on the court, a kind-hearted person lay underneath, supporting people closest to him, whether related by blood or not.

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