Lamar Odom has been working toward making an NBA comeback over the past several months, according to his personal trainer.
Odom, who was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital Tuesday night after being found unconscious at a Nevada brothel, was introduced to personal trainer Fareed Samad through his friend, professional boxer Zab Judah, back in June. TMZ spoke with Samad outside Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
“Physically, he was doing OK,” the trainer said. “He was down 35 pounds. He would take hiatuses once in a while — it’s more mental than physical with him.”
When asked if Odom was close to making a return, Samad hinted that it was a possibility.
“We talked to the Knicks about him going back to the NBA recently,” he said. “We went to camp to watch them. That motivated (Odom) to get into better shape. He was doing two-a-days with me and doing really well.”
Samad added that things were looking up for Odom to sign with the Knicks, but he noted that he had not spoken to him for four days prior to Odom’s medical emergency.
It’s unclear exactly what Samad means when he says Odom had spoken with the Knicks recently, but we do know he was working out with the team a little over a year ago. Phil Jackson coached Odom for six years with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2005-2011. Odom became one of the best sixth men in the league and won two championships during that span.
Odom has had a rough time keeping himself on track since his split from Khloe Kardashian, and Samad almost alluded to that. Odom reportedly suffered a drug relapse in August and was said to be suffering from depression following the death of one of his best friends.
