TMZ is reporting that Lamar Odom has checked himself into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
The NBA veteran and husband of reality TV star Khloe Kardashian has reportedly been on a downward spiral of late as instances of his "hardcore" drug use have surfaced. TMZ previously reported he checked into a drug treatment center last summer, only to abruptly bolt after just three weeks, despite his wife having hired an armed security guard to stand watch outside his door in hopes of keeping him there.
On Aug. 30, Odom was arrested on DUI charges not far from the couple's home after California Highway Patrol officers allegedly observed him driving his white Mercedes SUV too slowly on the 101 Freeway. TMZ adds in their reports, officers indicated Odom failed several field sobriety tests and showed "obvious signs" of being intoxicated, though no drugs or alcohol were found in his vehicle.
According to the website, Odom also refused to submit to any chemical-related tests, meaning that his driver's license will automatically be suspended for at least a year per state law. Cops added Odom initially ignored them and drove past three exits before finally coming to a stop.
"He realized he needs help," a source told TMZ of the free agent forward, who has also hired famed O.J. Simpson attorney Robert Shapiro to represent him. The website added that Kardashian recently gave her husband an ultimatum to either enter rehab or accept that their marriage was over. The two reportedly have been living apart for most of the summer as rumors of Odom's infidelities also surfaced.
Over the last several weeks, at least two women have stepped forward to allege they engaged in longtime affairs with him. Jennifer Richardson, a 29-year-old Washington stripper, even claimed she and Odom openly talked of having a child together. According to TMZ, she later passed a lie-detector test supporting her allegations.
Just two years removed from winning the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award, an unidentified GM recently told TMZ Odom has become "beyond toxic" and his NBA career is likely over.
"Just going by what he is giving you on the court, he would have been a risk anyway, maybe someone you give a partial guarantee to just to see if he can turn things around," the team exec told the website. "But with the circus that's around him off the court now, no way. I think that's the end of Lamar Odom in the NBA. It's a shame.
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