Metta World Peace: Me and Kobe Bryant Tried to Save Lamar Odom
When I found out Lamar [Odom] was in the hospital, you know, I was a little bit hurt – I was a lot hurt. Actually, I hated everybody,” Metta World Peace told us. “I mean, you got somebody you grew up with on their deathbed. I don’t even know how else you could feel.”
Metta World Peace was 11 years old when he met his then-future teammate, Lamar Odom, in Queensbridge, New York. The two played basketball for years together, and continued to do so as adults when they both were a part of the Los Angeles Lakers. More recently, the two hadn’t kept as much contact as they used to, but Metta admitted he was “in tears” when he heard Lamar overdosed in a Las Vegas brothel. Though he wasn’t able to visit him there, his brother, Daniel, flew out to Las Vegas to be by Lamar’s side, but was turned away along with others. At first, Metta believed the Kardashians were the reason people weren’t allowed to see Odom. “I was a little bitter towards the Kardashians without even knowing the situation,” he confessed to us. “Because all I know is that my buddy, well, it was reports that my buddy wasn’t going to make it.”
It was news to Metta as well when the world learned Lamar is still married to Khloe Kardashian. However the case may be, everyone involved has Lamar on their minds, and the only thing they’re concerned about currently is his health. “He’s home [in L.A.]. You know he’s not doing excellent, but he’s home. He’s alive,” but “he’s still not 100%.”
Listen as Metta explains the relationship between him, Lamar and Kobe Bryant, and why “through thick, through thin, negative [and] positive,” he will support his friend 100%.
