Lamar Odom is very much alive today, but for a stretch in October 2015, that outcome looked anything but guaranteed. A new docuseries, Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, released March 31, 2026, is pulling back the curtain on one of the most harrowing chapters in the former NBA star’s life a near-fatal overdose that left doctors shaking their heads in disbelief.
The series has reignited public curiosity about Odom’s well-being, and understandably so. The title alone raises questions. But the former Los Angeles Lakers forward is alive and has been open about his continued commitment to sobriety.
What happened during the 2015 overdose
In October 2015, Odom was found unresponsive at a brothel in Crystal, Nevada, after overdosing on cocaine. What followed was nothing short of medically extraordinary. He suffered 1) kidney failure, 2) 12 strokes and 3) six heart attacks, and was placed in a medically induced coma. Doctors reportedly warned those close to him that he might never walk or speak again.
That he recovered and recovered enough to reflect publicly on the experience has left even his medical team at a loss for a clean explanation. Odom has described himself as a walking miracle, and given the circumstances, it is hard to argue otherwise.
A history of struggles with addiction
Odom’s relationship with substances did not begin or end with the 2015 overdose. His troubles with drugs and alcohol stretch back years, with a notable DUI arrest in California in August 2013, when the California Highway Patrol pulled him over on the freeway in the San Fernando Valley. He showed signs of intoxication but declined a chemical test. Just one week later, he checked himself into a rehabilitation center, according to People.
He relapsed in 2016, a period that coincided with the end of his marriage to Khloé Kardashian, who had stood by him during his recovery following the overdose. More recently, in January 2026, Odom was arrested in Las Vegas and booked on two traffic violations driving more than 41 miles per hour over the speed limit and an improper lane change according to TMZ.
Life before and after the spotlight
Born on November 6, 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York, Odom did not have an easy start in life. His mother passed away from colon cancer when he was just 12 years old, and he was raised by his grandmother, Mildred. Despite those early hardships, he was selected fourth overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and went on to play 14 seasons in the league.
His personal life has also seen its share of heartbreak. He shares two children Lamar Jr. and Destiny with former partner Liza Morales. The couple also lost their infant son, Jayden, at six months old in 2006 due to sudden infant death syndrome.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Odom earned an estimated $115 million in salary and endorsements over the course of his career and currently holds a net worth of around $20 million.
Where Odom stands today
In recent years, Odom has leaned into recovery work, reportedly offering support to others navigating addiction, according to TMZ. The new docuseries serves as yet another step in that direction a candid look at a man who, by all medical reasoning, should not still be here, and who seems determined to make the most of the second chance he was given.
Source: BollywoodShaadis
