Lamar Odom’s NBA title rings go up for auction five years after the ex-Lakers star pawned them

Lamar Odom’s two NBA championship rings that he pawned while battling drug addiction five years ago are now up for auction, and are estimated to be worth $50,000 apiece

Lamar Odom’s two NBA championship rings that he pawned while battling drug addiction five years ago are now up for auction, and are estimated to be worth $50,000 apiece.

Heritage Auctions did not reveal the seller, but ruled out Odom, who famously fell into a coma in 2015 after overdosing on cocaine at a Nevada brothel before recovering and seeking treatment for alcohol and drug problems.

‘Both [rings] were pawned and never retrieved by the six-foot ten-inch forward at the depths of his downward spiral,’ read the description from Heritage Auctions.

The 40-year-old Odom has publicly acknowledged his battles with drug, alcohol, and sex addictions.  

It’s unclear if Odom, who made over $114 million in the NBA, intended to sell the rings to the pawn shop, or if he relinquished them after defaulting on a short-term loan. 

The rings commemorate the Lakers’ 15th and 16th NBA titles, which Odom helped win in 2009 and 2010 against the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, respectively. 

Lakers teammates Lamar Odom (left) and Ron Artest receive their 2010 NBA title rings

Lakers teammates Lamar Odom (left) and Ron Artest receive their 2010 NBA title rings 

The 2009 ring shows 'only minor signs of wear,' and has Odom's likeness engraved in the gold band, along with the Lakers' record that season: 65-17

The 2008-2009 NBA championship ring features Odom's likeness engraved along the band

The 2008-2009 NBA championship ring shows ‘only minor signs of wear,’ and has Odom’s likeness engraved in the gold band, along with the Lakers’ record that season, 65-17 

The 2009 ring shows ‘only minor signs of wear,’ and has Odom’s likeness engraved in the gold band, along with the Lakers’ record that season: 65-17.

‘The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy appears in miniature on the ring face along with the ‘Lakers’ logo, set against a background of wall-to-wall diamonds,’ read the Heritage Auctions description. ‘2009 World Champions’ balances at the perimeter in raised text. The left shank features an image of the LA skyline.’

The 2010 ring was made by high-end jeweler, Jason of Beverly Hills, and sixteen karat gold and 16 large-cut diamonds, commemorating the team’s 16th title (one shy of the Boston Celtics’ NBA record).

Although ‘light wear is evident,’ the 2010 ring has one interesting feature: a souvenir from the Lakers’ Game 7 win over the rival Celtics.

‘Perhaps most unique and exciting is a clear window at interior of the band that displays a small circular swatch of the Game Seven ball used in the clincher,’ reads the description. 

Although 'light wear is evident,' the 2009-2010 ring has one interesting feature: a souvenir from the Lakers' Game 7 win over the rival Celtics

The 2009-2010 championship ring contains 'a small circular swatch of the Game Seven ball used in the clincher'

Although ‘light wear is evident,’ the 2009-2010 ring (left and right) has one interesting feature: a souvenir from the Lakers’ Game 7 win over the rival Celtics. ‘Perhaps most unique and exciting is a clear window at interior of the band that displays a small circular swatch of the Game Seven ball used in the clincher,’ reads the description

Odom overdosed at a Nevada brothel in 2015 and continues to have memory issues to this day

Odom overdosed at a Nevada brothel in 2015 and continues to have memory issues to this day

The 69-gram ring is also stamped with a low serial number, like the 2009 version, which ‘is indicative of player issue.’

Odom is still dealing with memory issues and physical challenges since suffering 12 strokes and six heart attacks following the overdose.

‘My damn memory,’ Odom told the New York Daily News in May. ‘I can’t remember s***.’

Odom is struggling with short-term memory loss, he explained, and often forgets where he put an object moments after handling it.

His doctors prescribed some mental exercises to combat the issues, but that’s only the beginning of Odom’s ongoing problems.

Once a teenage basketball phenomenon in the New York neighborhood of South Jamaica, Queens, the 6-foot-10 Odom is now struggling to even dribble a ball.

In 2017, Odom described coming out of his coma in a piece for the Players' Tribune. At the time, he was estranged from his now-ex-wife Khloe Kardashian, but was surprised to see her at the hospital after his own infidelities. 'My ex-wife was there in the room with me,' he wrote. 'After all the shit I had done, I was surprised to see her. Honestly, that's when I knew that I was probably in bad shape. 'At that point in my life, I was doing coke every day,' he continued. 'Pretty much every second of free time that I had, I was doing coke. I couldn't control it'

In 2017, Odom described coming out of his coma in a piece for the Players’ Tribune. At the time, he was estranged from his now-ex-wife Khloe Kardashian, but was surprised to see her at the hospital after his own infidelities. ‘My ex-wife was there in the room with me,’ he wrote. ‘After all the shit I had done, I was surprised to see her. Honestly, that’s when I knew that I was probably in bad shape. ‘At that point in my life, I was doing coke every day,’ he continued. ‘Pretty much every second of free time that I had, I was doing coke. I couldn’t control it’

‘From the stroke, some of my balance is not the same, my equilibrium is not the same, but I’m working on it to get it better,’ Odom said. ‘Handling the basketball came so naturally. When I see that going between my legs and going behind my back is a problem, I think that’s the coma and stroke and heart attack.’

The former University of Rhode Island star still feels incredibly lucky to be alive after binging on cocaine in the days leading up to his collapse in 2015.

‘All my doctors say I’m a walking miracle,’ Odom said. ‘They couldn’t really believe how I came back so fast. When I woke up I couldn’t walk or talk.’

Despite earning about $114 million over parts of 15 NBA seasons, he still attempted to play in Spain and even made an appearance for a Filipino team in a tournament in Dubai – although he admits he played like ‘a bum.’

In 2017, Odom described coming out of his coma in a piece for the Players’ Tribune.

At the time, he was estranged from his reality star wife Khloe Kardashian, but was surprised to see her at the hospital after a string of his own infidelities.

‘My ex-wife was there in the room with me,’ he wrote. ‘After all the shit I had done, I was surprised to see her. Honestly, that’s when I knew that I was probably in bad shape.

‘At that point in my life, I was doing coke every day,’ he continued. ‘Pretty much every second of free time that I had, I was doing coke. I couldn’t control it.’

Although he’s no longer the versatile, playmaking forward that teamed with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol for a pair of titles in L.A., Odom says he physically and mentally in a much better place than he was four years ago.

‘For me it’s just a blessing to be able to play. I’m just refining all my skills,’ Odom told the Daily News. ‘I think God made a deal with me. He said, ‘I’m going to give you life, but I’m going to take your basketball skills.’ But I don’t mind working to get it back. It’s going to be a tedious process, but it’ll come back.’

In November, Odom announced that he was engaged to girlfriend Sabrina Parr. 

In November, Odom announced that he was engaged to girlfriend Sabrina Parr (right)

In November, Odom announced that he was engaged to girlfriend Sabrina Parr (right) 

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