Lamar Odom Found Unconscious in Nevada, Khloe Kardashian Inconsolable (Photo : E! News )
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the early stages of their ascent to basketball significance and in the middle of preparing for the upcoming NBA season, but their focus briefly shifted to a former player who is battling for his life at a Las Vegas hospital.
"Obviously he's very close to this organization, so I think everybody's thinking about Lamar," Byron Scott talked about former Laker Lamar Odom. "One of the first thoughts on my mind when I got here this morning was had anybody heard any differently on what's going on with him."
He continued: "I think throughout the day, we're all thinking about him and we're all wishing him the best. Just praying, just praying for him."
The current Los Angeles head coach wasn't at the helm when Odom and the rest of the Lakers won back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.
Metta World Peace, who was part of the team's last title run and is a childhood friend of Odom, though, shared his insights on the whole situation.
"Kobe's amazing," World Peace referred to Bryant who, along with him, is the only player left in the Lakers' last title run.
He followed: "I thank Mitch (Lakers general manager) and the Laker organization for being very concerned and Gary Vitti (Lakers head trainer) for keeping us all updated. Hopefully, Lamar pulls through."
After suffering a lower leg contusion in their 107-100 loss against the Sacramento Kings, Kobe Bryant went straight to the hospital room of his close friend.
"It's hard on him," Coach Scott said of Kobe. "He was very close to Lamar. Loves him like a brother. It's just a rough time for Kobe dealing with that. This is probably the first time that he's had a teammate that's going through something like this."
For his part, Chicago Bulls player Pau Gasol, who was the Lakers' starting power forward during their championship conquest, shared that Odom's state "breaks his heart."
"It's really sad," Gasol said. "Really, really sad for all of us that know him and care about him and been around him."
The Spaniard concluded: "A great teammate, full of joy. A guy that you want to have in your locker room. Unselfish. An incredible guy. I had a lot of memorable moments with him."
This unfortunate situation really goes beyond the borders of basketball, as it tackles the harsh realities of life away from the sport.
Here's to hoping that after those smiles he put on people's faces and the passes he dished out to teammates, Lamar Odom gets an assist from a greater being and another shot toward championing this challenge.
