Lamar Odom’s father is gravely ill

Lamar Odom’s heroin addict father Joe Odom is ‘gravely ill.’
The 32-year-old Dallas Mavericks star has also taken indefinite leave from the team to care for his sick father, RadarOnline.com report.
‘Lamar’s dad is gravely ill, and he wanted time off to be with him,’ a source close to Khloe Karadashian’s husband told them.

Lamar missed Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers and Coach Rick Carlislie said ‘He has been excused to tend to a family matter. He will rejoin us after the [All-Star] break.’

‘Khloe and Lamar were really upset about the news about Joe,’ the source said about the couple. ‘They’re putting their schedules on hold right now to be there for him.’

Joe Odom had struggled with a heroin addiction, but Khloe has tried to help Lamar build bridges with his largely absent father, as documented on their reality show Khloe and Lamar.

‘It’s a really serious medical condition,’ the source said, which is why Lamar is taking the time off right now.

‘This is the peak of the season, the Mavs really needed Lamar because the team depends on him, but they totally understand that family comes first.

‘It was really serious for Lamar to take the break right now and last night proved it, but no one is holding it against him.’

Following his trade to the Mavericks from the Lakers, Lamar has become an important part of the team, and the source said that he has their support.

‘The team is all pulling for Lamar’s dad and hope that he gets better. Their thoughts and prayers are with he and Khloe at this time.’

The 27-year-old has worked tirelessly to bring father and son closer together.

It’s been an arduous endeavour given Lamar’s feelings towards his absent father, but it looks like the plucky Kardashian has turned a corner.

She was photographed with Joe in Los Angeles just last month, and the pair looked to be in high spirits.

They were, unsurprisingly, filming a segment for the show but you’d have to possess a heart of stone not to be moved by this reconciliation, despite its public nature.

The difficult kinship has been chronicled (of course) in the couple’s E! reality show, Khloe and Lamar.

In a programme broadcast last April, Odom admitted: ‘My father’s a heroin addict.’

Lamar’s mother died of colon cancer when he was 12, and he was then raised by his grandmother Mildred.

Khloe was seen pushing for the Joe and Lamar to reconcile, but he remained resistant.

It all started when Joe Odom turned up unannounced to one of Khloe’s book signings.

He approached Khloe at the event and told her he would like to reconnect with his son and attend some of his basketball games.

Khloe was unsure about the issues between the father and son and approached Lamar with the idea only for him to become distressed.

Luckily, the star who has faced so many reports about her own paternity, didn’t give up on reclaiming a father for her partner.