Lamar Odom Arrested in Las Vegas on DUI and Traffic Violations as His Personal Struggles Resurface
- Jan 17
- 4 min read
17 January 2026
On January 17, 2026, former NBA star Lamar Odom was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of driving under the influence and multiple traffic offenses in an incident that has drawn fresh attention to both his legal troubles and long-standing battles with substance use and health challenges. According to court records reviewed after the stop, the 46-year-old was taken into custody in the early hours of a Saturday morning after a highway patrol trooper observed his vehicle traveling at an extremely high speed on Interstate 15 and subsequently pulled him over, setting in motion a sequence that would leave many in shock and reignite conversations about one of basketball’s most tumultuous careers.
The trooper first noticed Odom’s black SUV speeding along the freeway at an estimated 106 mph, a rate far above posted limits and enough to prompt immediate pursuit. Even as the patrol vehicle reached speeds near 110 mph in an attempt to close the gap, the SUV continued at a dangerous pace before finally stopping in a section of the roadway north of a Spring Mountain Road exit.
From the moment police approached the vehicle, details in the report suggested that officers were concerned about more than just excessive speed. The trooper wrote that both Odom and his unidentified passenger displayed red, watery eyes and that there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the SUV. When first questioned, Odom reportedly claimed that his passenger had been smoking, but later admitted that he had used marijuana earlier in the day. He denied at first that he was impaired by alcohol, although law enforcement officials proceeded with field sobriety testing after signs of impairment became evident.
During the roadside examination, officers noted that Odom had difficulty with basic balance and coordination tasks, ultimately describing his performance on the sobriety tests as unsatisfactory. At one point during the stop, he even neglected to engage the vehicle in park before exiting, causing it to roll slightly, a detail that added to the unusual nature of his arrest. As part of the standard processing, Odom was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on suspicion of DUI along with charges related to speeding and making an unsafe lane change, and he consented to a blood draw while in custody.
At the time initial reports surfaced, it appeared that Odom remained in custody, prompting immediate speculation and concern among fans who have followed his story for years. Subsequent reporting indicated that, as of January 20, he was no longer listed as being held in jail, though his case is expected to move through the Nevada legal system with a scheduled appearance in March.
This latest arrest comes more than a decade after Odom’s previous DUI charge in California in 2013, a case that resulted in probation, an alcohol education program and fines after he reached a plea agreement. His past legal issues are intertwined with a well-documented history of struggles with substance use and health crises, including a near-fatal overdose in 2015 at a Nevada brothel where he was found unconscious and later suffered multiple strokes, heart attacks and organ damage. That medical emergency, which led to a coma and an extended hospital stay, became one of the most publicized events of his post-NBA life and was featured in his memoir and documentary projects.
Odom’s run in the NBA spanned 14 seasons during which he won back-to-back championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and also played for several other teams, earning a reputation for his size, skill and versatility on the court. His personal life, including a high-profile marriage to reality television star Khloé Kardashian from 2009 until their 2016 divorce, was widely covered in the media and helped solidify his status as a pop-culture figure beyond the sports world. The couple’s appearances together on the reality series Khloé & Lamar offered intimate glimpses into both his athletic career and his off-court challenges.
Over the years, Odom has been candid about his journey with addiction and recovery, sharing in interviews and on social media how close he has come to losing his life due to substance misuse and how deeply those experiences have affected him personally and professionally. In a 2021 interview, he spoke openly about using ketamine therapy as part of his recovery process and trying to maintain sobriety while engaging with others facing similar struggles.
Despite these efforts and periods of stability, his arrest in Las Vegas underscores the ongoing complexities of addiction and the difficulties many people face in maintaining long-term health and well-being. Odom’s story has become one of remarkable resilience and repeated setbacks, with fans and critics alike watching closely as he navigates each new chapter of his life. His legal situation now poses fresh questions about how he will address these challenges and what support systems are in place as he prepares for the next steps in the judicial process.
In the broader context of public reaction, discussions about Odom’s arrest have ranged from expressions of concern for his welfare to commentary on accountability and the pressures of fame. His name remains deeply associated with both his achievements as a professional athlete and his very public journey through adversity, making each new development in his life a subject of intense attention. As he faces the legal ramifications of this incident, the spotlight will likely remain on Odom not just for past accomplishments but for how he confronts the challenges that continue to shape his post-basketball narrative.