Kobe Bryant joined Khloe Kardashian and some of Odom’s childhood friends at his bedside after a Tuesday night Lakers game in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, file)
Only two weeks ago, Kobe Bryant learned Lamar Odom was hospitalized after losing consciousness at a Las Vegas brothel, prompting the Lakers’ star to leave the team’s preseason game and rush to his former teammates side.
Then, Odom was not expected to make it. But plenty has changed since then. Odom was transported last week to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He started physical therapy. Those around the Lakers believe Odom will survive.
“It put things in perspective even more,” Bryant said on Tuesday in what marked his first comments about Odom since his ordeal. “This is what we do and this is not who we are. Sometimes basketball can get in the way of life and living. He’s a brother above everything else. I’m supporting him to get back on his feet. It’s amazing to see him doing so well. It truly is remarkable.”
Plenty of complications await, however.
Odom will likely need a kidney transplant, according to sources. He also has suffered severe lung and brain damage. Yet, Bryant declined to divulge the day-to-day progress or struggles Odom has experienced in recent days.
“I’m not going to sit here and give you information that you can probably get off of TMZ right now,” Bryant said. “So he’s doing well.”
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