In 2015, Lamar Odom suffered 12 strokes, six heart attacks and kidney failure following a near-fatal overdose at a brothel in Nevada. Miraculously, he survived — but in an upcoming episode of Netflix’s Untold, titled The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, the former basketball pro says he experienced the “afterlife.”
“The afterlife is not what people make it out to be,” Odom shares in the trailer for the episode, which premieres on March 31, 2026.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Odom’s overdose and hospitalization ahead of the documentary:
What Happened to Lamar Odom?
On October 13, 2015, Lamar Odom was rushed to the hospital after he was found unconscious in a VIP suite at the Love Ranch, a brothel in Crystal, Nevada. Cocaine and opiates were discovered in the former Los Angeles Lakers player’s system.
Lamar Odom Recalls Having 1 Drink Before Coma, Thinks He Was Slipped Drugs
Odom was hospitalized in critical condition and spent approximately three to four days on life support. Doctors later revealed that the athlete had suffered multiple strokes and heart attacks.
During a January 2025 appearance on The Kyle & Jackie O Show, Odom claimed that drugs were “slipped” into his drink at the brothel.
“I do remember, but I don’t really remember because I was in a coma. I remember being upset that I didn’t have any cocaine to take to the brothel. I had just signed the divorce papers and I thought I was just gonna go all the way in,” he recalled, referring to his split from ex-wife Khloé Kardashian, whom he married in 2009. (Kardashian was by his side when he awoke from his coma, and their divorce was put on pause amid his recovery. The split was later finalized in 2016.)
Odom remembered “having a drink and then waking up three days later with it all over the news.”
“I don’t know what they were able to slip into my drink or what,” he continued. “When I woke up, I couldn’t walk or talk. So it took you know, it took some months of rehabilitation and a lot of prayers, a lot of determination.”
Did Lamar Odom Die During His Overdose?
Lamar Odom did not die during his overdose, but he spent approximately three to four days in a coma.
“All my doctors that see me say I’m a walking miracle. I had 12 strokes and six heart attacks when I was in a coma,” he told Kevin Hart during an interview in 2018. “Every day, I’m alive. It’s much better than the alternative.”
How Lamar Odom Recovered After His Overdose
Lamar Odom woke up from his coma by October 16, 2015, and was taken off his ventilator. He remained in a Las Vegas hospital for about a week before he was transferred to a Los Angeles hospital for additional treatment. He spent several weeks learning to walk and talk again.
After his overdose, Odom checked into a rehabilitation center in 2016, where he said he learned to deal with anxiety that contributed to his addiction struggles.
Khloe Kardashian Developed Staph infection After Lamar Odom Hospital Visit
Lamar Odom Has Been Candid About His Addiction Struggles
In Untold, Lamar Odom opens up about his years-long battle with addiction, primarily to cocaine, and how it led to his overdose.
“That first hit of cocaine was amazing,” he says in the trailer. “But you unlock a vault that you can’t really control.”
Odom continued, “When you’re calling it addiction, there’s always going to be embarrassment. I was out all night partying. I didn’t want to stop.”
Khloé Kardashian added, “He would escape rehab and go on a drug bender, and no one could find him. I just felt such a responsibility to cover this up and protect him.”
After his overdose, Odom became dedicated to helping others in their own battles with addiction.
“Now, my mission is probably to help people who have the same problem who couldn’t help themselves be able to understand addiction and understand that it’s a brain disease,” he said on The Kyle & Jackie O Show. “It’s important for people to really understand and educate themselves.”
In January 2026, Odom was arrested for driving under the influence, speeding and executing an improper lane change. He was released on bail several hours later and voluntarily entered an in-patient rehab facility.
“After a recent incident, he took a step back to reflect and address triggers he’s been dealing with,” manager Gina Rodriguez told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “He’s taking full responsibility and choosing to be proactive about his wellbeing. “Lamar is grateful for the support and is committed to moving forward in a healthy, positive way.”
Odom checked out of rehab after 30 days.
“He went to stop smoking marijuana completely, and he was afraid it might lead to something else. He wanted to reset. He looks amazing and feels amazing,” his rep told Us.
