Lamar Odom Pawned NBA Championship Rings to Pay Medical Bills

The former Lakers star earned an estimated $110 million during his 14-year NBA career.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:22pm

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Lamar Odom, a former NBA player who won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, revealed that he pawned his championship rings to pay for medical bills related to his near-fatal overdose in 2015. Odom, who earned an estimated $110 million over his 14-year NBA career, spent months in recovery and rehabilitation after the incident, relearning basic functions like walking and talking.

Why it matters

Odom's story highlights the financial challenges that professional athletes can face, even those who have earned substantial salaries during their careers. The need to pawn valuable personal items to cover medical expenses underscores the importance of financial planning and support systems for athletes transitioning out of professional sports.

The details

Odom entered the NBA in 1999 as the 4th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers. He went on to play for several teams, including the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he became a key contributor to back-to-back championship runs in 2009 and 2010. In 2015, Odom experienced a near-fatal overdose and spent months in recovery, relearning basic functions. To pay for his medical bills, Odom revealed that he pawned his two NBA championship rings, which were later sold at auction for a total of $114,600.

  • Odom was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1999.
  • Odom won NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
  • Odom experienced a near-fatal overdose in October 2015.
  • Odom pawned his championship rings to pay for medical bills in 2022.
  • Odom's championship rings were sold at auction in 2020.

The players

Lamar Odom

A former NBA player who won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and earned an estimated $110 million over his 14-year career.

Phil Jackson

The president of the New York Knicks, who released a statement in 2013 saying Odom was unable to uphold the standards to return as an NBA player.

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What they’re saying

“Odom 'was unable to uphold the standards to return as an NBA player'.”

— Phil Jackson, President, New York Knicks

What’s next

The fan who purchased Odom's championship rings at auction has offered to return them to him for free, recognizing that Odom deserves to have the rings back.

The takeaway

Lamar Odom's story serves as a cautionary tale about the financial challenges that professional athletes can face, even those who have earned substantial salaries during their careers. The need to pawn valuable personal items to cover medical expenses underscores the importance of financial planning and support systems for athletes transitioning out of professional sports.