Lamar Odom found unconscious in Nye County brothel
Professional basketball player and one-time UNLV recruit Lamar Odom was taken to a Las Vegas hospital after he was found unconscious Tuesday night at a Nye County brothel, according to the Nye County sheriff's office.
A media director at Dennis Hof's Bunny Ranch in Crystal, about 30 miles north of Pahrump, called Nye County emergency personnel about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, reporting Odom was experiencing a "medical emergency" and was unresponsive, Nye County Sheriff Sharon Wehrly wrote in a release about 7 p.m.
He arrived at Desert View Hospital in Pahrump at 4:16 p.m.
Odom, 35, couldn't be transported to Las Vegas by helicopter because of his stature, Wehrly wrote in the release. Odom is 6-feet-10-inches tall and weighs about 230 pounds, according to ESPN.
He was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas by ambulance for further treatment.
An employee at Desert View Hospital in Pahrump said she could not release any information on Odom.
Odom played for the Los Angeles Lakers when the team won the NBA Championship in 2009 and 2010. The Lakers have not commented, but coach Byron Scott told reporters, "We heard about it and our prayers are with Lamar and we wish him well."
Odom is the ex-husband of E! reality star Khloe Kardashian, who filed for divorce in 2013 after four years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
In 2013, less than a week after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Odom checked into a treatment facility near Los Angeles, according to E! News. Less than 24 hours later, he checked out of the facility.
As a youth, Odom chose to play for the Runnin' Rebels, led by then coach Bill Bayno, but was released from his letter of intent in 1997, according to media reports. A "Sports Illustrated" story questioning the validity of Lamar's ACT score and an arrest for soliciting a prostitute gave the school reason to revoke Odom's scholarship, according to Bleacher Report. An NCAA investigation also revealed that Odom had received $5,600 in illicit payments from one of the school's boosters.
Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber
