Photo Courtesy of Stephen Dunn
In an interview with TMZ, former basketball star Lamar Odom revealed that his former teammate Kobe Bryant still speaks to him in his dreams.
On July 2, Odom talked to TMZ Sports about the late Bryant and how often he still feels his presence around him.
TMZ first ran into Odom the week before the interview at the LA International Airport and
spotted him wearing a Gigi and Kobe tribute pendant that he had been gifted earlier this year. He mentioned that he often speaks to Bryant in his dreams.Odom told TMZ that his dreams with Bryant typically revolve around the two of them shooting hoops casually, and occasionally they’re in actual games together. He said. “[He’s] just talking to me all the time. ‘Hang in there. Keep fighting.’ A lot of s***.”
The advice that he receives from Bryant is always encouraging, giving Odom advice that he needs to make decisions in his everyday life and offering him strength after his friend’s passing.
“His spirit, it’s so strong. To me, he’s like not too far away. Especially when you’re dreaming of someone, and they talk to you in that dream, you’re definitely going to remember it.” He continued to say that Bryant still inspires him in many aspects of his life to this day when he feels him close. He cited it as the main reason that Odom enjoys flying to Los Angeles so often. “It’s crazy,” Odom expressed with a smile, “That’s why I love coming back to L.A., too. I feel him.”
The deceased NBA Hall of Famer and Odom were close on and off the court, having played together for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2004 to 2011. The pair won two championships while they were teammates and spent time together outside of games and practice.