The film, part of Netflix’s Untold series, revisits the events that led to Odom being found unresponsive at a legal brothel and the aftermath of his recovery.
Directed by Ryan Duffy, The Death & Life of Lamar Odom presents a detailed account of the athlete’s career and personal history. Odom, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, is portrayed reflecting on his experiences with addiction and loss.
“There is a way of understanding Lamar where everything in his life is kind of in reaction to death hunting him since he was a kid,” Duffy says. “Then it catches him, he somehow wiggles out of it and is still here. Shit, I’d be pretty sideways if that was the case for me, too.”
In 2015, Odom suffered kidney failure, multiple heart attacks and 12 strokes after a reported cocaine binge. He was placed in a medically induced coma, with doctors indicating a low chance of survival without lasting damage. At the time, the incident drew widespread attention and coverage.
The documentary includes Odom’s own reflections on his behaviour. “I know cocaine isn’t the way to go,” he says, “but it’s a high that feels so good, you wish you could capture it and put it in a bottle so you can have it the next day.”
Khloé Kardashian, Odom’s former wife, also appears in the film, discussing their relationship and the challenges linked to his addiction. “I felt such a responsibility to cover this up, hold it together and protect him,” she says.
The documentary also highlights Odom’s attempts to rebuild relationships with his children while acknowledging past actions, including his role as a father and partner.