Lamar Odom has publicly addressed his recent Las Vegas DUI arrest. The NBA alum says he was sober at the time of the stop and is focused on personal growth.
In a statement to the press, Odom said he is “learning from this experience” and remains committed to taking responsibility.
Lamar Odom Claimed To Be Sober Amid His DUI Arrest in Las Vegas
Lamar Odom refuted the claims that he was intoxicated following his Las Vegas DUI arrest early on January 17, 2026. The 46-year-old was pulled over on Interstate 15 near Harry Reid International Airport by Nevada Highway Patrol officers. Officers in charge reported that his SUV was traveling at 106 mph, more than 41 mph above the posted limit. Odom also made an unsafe lane change before stopping.
In his first public remarks since the arrest, Odom said, “I am learning from this experience and remain committed to my continued growth. I’ve worked hard to rebuild my life, and taking responsibility is an essential part of that process,” according to TMZ Sports reporting. He added that he is cooperating fully with authorities and “staying honest and focused” as the case moves forward.
Police reports indicated that the patrol officer observed signs that prompted the traffic stop. The officer noticed bloodshot eyes and a lingering marijuana smell in Odom’s vehicle. During initial interrogation, the Lakers alum stated a passenger on board may have been smoking. He later said that he had smoked “hours earlier.” In what appeared to be disjointed, the sportser also told the police that he “doesn’t really smoke and doesn’t smoke marijuana.”
Police Report Appears To Refute Odom’s Denial
The report provided more details, showing that Odom’s vehicle was traveling at high speed and that he failed field sobriety testing administered at the scene. Police say that the two-time NBA champion displayed multiple signs of impairment during the test. These included the finger-to-nose, walk-and-turn, modified Romberg balance, and one-leg standing exercises.
Per RadarOnline, Odom started tests too early, swayed, and lost his balance. He also missed heel-to-toe steps, stopped mid-testt and stepped off the line. Furthermore, the records claimed that the basketball icon failed to touch the tip of his nose despite six attempts. He showed eyelid tremors and incorrectly estimated 30 seconds in just 13 seconds.
Before carrying out the sobriety test, the patrol officer asked the former athlete about his medical history, including questions about a traumatic brain injury. The report noted that he had laughed while stating that he had “12 strokes and six heart attacks.” It is safe to say that this was in reference to his past public struggle with substances and their effects.
His Records Show Past Struggles In The Public
Nevada Police in Vegas arrested Lamar Odom on DUI charges, but it was not his first rodeo. Back in 2013, Odom had a clash with the law when he was apprehended on suspicion of DUI in California. Two years later, he narrowly survived a major health scare in Nevada.
Odom was found unresponsive at the Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada, due to a drug-related incident. The mishap left him on life support at the time, leaving his then-wife, Khloe Kardashian, to nurse him back to health.
