Ex-NBA Star Recounts Vivid Dream of Kobe Bryant's Afterlife Message

Lamar Odom says Bryant told him 'the afterlife is not what people make it up to be' in a dream competition.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:42am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Former NBA player Lamar Odom, who won two championships with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers, recently revealed that he had a vivid dream where Bryant appeared and shared a mysterious message about the afterlife. In the dream, Odom and Bryant were competing in a three-point contest hosted by actor Billy Crystal, when Bryant suddenly stopped and looked at Odom, telling him 'the afterlife is not what people make it up to be' before Odom woke up.

Why it matters

Odom's dream about Bryant's afterlife message has sparked introspection about the nature of the afterlife and the lessons we can learn from the lives and deaths of loved ones. As someone who has faced his own near-death experience, Odom is reflecting on Bryant's words and what they might mean about the true nature of the afterlife.

The details

In the dream, Odom said he and Bryant were competing in a three-point contest when Bryant suddenly stopped and looked at Odom, delivering the cryptic message about the afterlife before Odom woke up. Odom has pondered the meaning of Bryant's words, believing his former teammate may have been trying to send him a message from the other side.

  • Odom recently revealed the details of the dream on the 'Doubl3 Coverage Podcast'.

The players

Lamar Odom

A former NBA player who won two championships alongside Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant

The late Los Angeles Lakers legend who died in a helicopter crash in 2020 along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.

Billy Crystal

An actor who was the host of the three-point contest in Odom's dream.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He just stopped and he looked back at me. He said, 'Hello, the afterlife is not what people make it up to be.' And then I woke up shortly after that.”

— Lamar Odom, Former NBA Player

The takeaway

Odom's vivid dream about Kobe Bryant's mysterious message regarding the afterlife has prompted him to reflect on the true nature of life after death, especially in light of his own near-death experience. The dream has sparked deeper introspection about the lessons we can learn from the lives and deaths of loved ones, and how we can live our best lives in the present.