During a recent sit-down interview with a pair of basketball legends, Lamar Odom made some stunning admissions about his hard drug use during his NBA career.<\/p>\n
The former Laker opened up in a candid conversation with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady on the latest episode of the \u201cCousins\u201d podcast, and he said that back in his playing days, he never used when games were on the schedule because of the league\u2019s strict testing policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you get caught for sniffing cocaine,\u201d he told Carter and McGrady, \u201cthat suspension is going to be crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
But, when it was time for off-seasons, he said that was a totally different story.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had some great cocaine summers,\u201d Odom confessed.<\/p>\n
Odom, McGrady and Carter spoke for an hour on-camera about the two-time NBA champion\u2019s struggle with sobriety, and Odom acknowledged repeatedly that he was an addict.<\/p>\n
At one point, he said outright, \u201cI loved drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n
He, however, said it all probably cost him a spot in the Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
\u201cI should be where y\u2019all at,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the Fame. You feel what I\u2019m saying? Off of straight talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
He later added, \u201cI hurt that by abusing drugs. One hundred per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Odom talked in depth about his near-death experience at a famed Nevada brothel in 2015 and shared intimate details about all his life\u2019s ups and downs.<\/p>\n
He ended up saying he\u2019s now two years clean from cocaine, although he\u2019s still using marijuana.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old ultimately told Carter and McGrady he\u2019s hoping to use his tales to help others dealing with substance abuse issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve probably been put here to do something more than just play basketball,\u201d he said, before later adding, \u201cWith my story, with my platform \u2014 I can save people from this crazy disease that\u2019s f \u2013 king America up.\u201d<\/p>\n