Retired Los Angeles Lakers power forward Lamar Odom is still reeling from the sudden and tragic passing of future Hall of Fame shooting guard and ex-teammate Kobe Bryant, who perished in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others aboard on Jan. 26.
Odom, 40, spoke on “Drink Champs: Happy Hour,” airing on Revolt TV, and explained his shocked reaction to the untimely death of the “Black Mamba,” via Bleacher Report.
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The news of Bryant's passing shook the foundation of not just the NBA but the greater sports world and, of course, the Los Angeles area. Staples Center—home to the Lakers and Clippers—turned into an active memorial for the departed basketball great, who won five championships with the purple and gold franchise, and Bryant's memory was heavy on the minds of active and former NBA players.
For Odom, who won two titles alongside Bryant and the Lakers in 2009-10, Bryant's death “took the breath out” of him. Odom was once on the end of tragic news when he was comatose after overdosing a few years back, but he survived his substance abuse and stands today crushed that his inspiring former teammate is gone instead.
The Lakers held a pre-game memorial for Bryant in L.A.'s first game at Staples Center following the death in early February as well as an event attended by Bryant's living family, including widowed spouse Vanessa, last month, but the pain was unmistakably cruel for Odom at the time and made little sense.