Former Lakers and Clippers forward Lamar Odom has started physical therapy a week after falling unconscious at a brothel in Nevada. file photo
The smile on Metta World Peace’s face widened as heard the name of a childhood friend and a former Lakers’ teammmate.
Lamar Odom has made significant improvement in the past week ever since he was hospitalized at a Las Vegas hospital after becoming unconscious at a local brothel. Since then, Odom has spent the past two days at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles , where he has made improvements with his walking, speaking and breathing, multiple sources familiar with the situation said.
“He’s doing well,” World Peace said after practice on Wednesday at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo. “He’s on therapy. That’s great.”
On top of that, reality television star Khloe Kardashian will stay married to Odom. The Los Angeles County Superior Court clerk’s office granted the party’s request for dismissal of Kardashian’s divorce petition on Wednesday morning, Los Angeles News Group confirmed.
“That’s great. That’s their personal life,” World Peace said. “I wish them the best. I don’t know anything about their personal life other that they love each other. I wish the best for his children and his health.”
World Peace’s infectious personality marked a stark contrast to when he learned about the news last week before the Lakers’ preseason game against Sacramento in Las Vegas. Afterwards, World Peace sat by his locker quietly as his eyes reddened. He then said, “There’s not one word I can say right now that would make sense.”
A week later, World Peace called the Odom’s hospitalization “the scariest thing in a long time.”
“I’m happy he’s made it through,” World Peace said. “It was the worst thing ever. I twas the worst thing ever. That was bad. That was not a happy moment.”
At the time, many on the Lakers dreaded that Odom would soon pass away. Witnesses reported in a 911 call released last week that Odom took cocaine and 10 doses of a sexual performance enhancer over three days. But Odom gradually made enough improvements that he was transported via medical helicopter Monday evening from Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
“From the beginning, you’re just hopeful. People pray,” World Peace said. “I pray to Buddha. I’m not Buddhist. But I like Buddha. Some people pray to their different gods. But my boy made it through. He still has therapy. But it was a scary time.”
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