Entertainment

Why Lamar Odom Checked Into Rehab

by Jordana Lipsitz

Late on Monday, E! News reported that Lamar Odom checked himself into rehab almost a year after his nearly fatal overdose in Nevada, a near-death experience that had ex-wife Khloe Kardashian rushing to the former NBA athlete's side. Now, a year later, Odom seems ready to get help, and has checked into a rehab in San Diego, E! reported. The reason why Lamar Odom checked into rehab was for his own health. According to E!'s source, Odom made the rehab call by himself and the unnamed source said, "It was his own decision. He wanted to work on his mental and physical health for the next chapter of his life. He has not fallen off the wagon, but he understands the importance of maintaining his sobriety."

Bustle reached out to Odom's reps for comment and did not hear back in time for publication. It's a good move for the former basketball star, who had a history of addition and overdose. Last year, Odom was found unconscious at Dennis Hof's Love Ranch South in Pahrump, Nevada, and a statement from the Nye County Sheriff's Office reported that it took about forty-five minutes to stabilize Odom before he was able to moved to a hospital in Vegas for treatment for the 2015 incident. The Queens native was in a coma for three days before he reportedly woke up to ex-wife Khloe Kardashian, sitting on his hospital bed.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Before that incredibly terrifying event went down, there were reports about Odom's issues with substance abuse. In 2013, LA Times broke the story that Odom was pulled over while driving on suspicion of being intoxicated but refused chemical tests which would gauge his level of intoxication. While he received "three years probation and three months of alcohol abuse treatment," it wasn't until the 2015 brothel incident that his drug issues were truly brought to light.

Though Odom has had some dark times in his past, it's awesome that the retired basketball player is looking out for himself and asking for help and support when he needs it.