Lamar Odom's friends, family fear he's 'back on hard drugs'

Nearly nine months after being found unconscious with cocaine in his system at a Nevada brothel, friends and family members of Lamar Odom fear that the former NBA player is "back on hard drugs," TMZ reported Friday morning.

Allegations of crack use have trailed Odom, 36, for several years, dating back to his brief 2013 disappearance, subsequent arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, and short stint in a rehab facility. After his hospitalization last fall following what was believed to be an overdose, but for which Odom was never charged with cocaine possession or use, those close to the two-time NBA champion and 2011 NBA Sixth Man of the Year "thought he'd been scared straight," according to TMZ:

But multiple sources close to Odom — hoping to get through to the NBA star — tell us he's been acting very strange lately. His friends are convinced he's off the wagon, and for the last few weeks they've been trying to get through to him.

So, a group of people went to his home to convince him to enter rehab — but Odom scoffed ... telling the group he doesn't need any help. [...]

During the confrontation, which took place at Odom's home in Calabasas, we're told his friends noticed drug paraphernalia scattered all over the place ... including crack pipes, baggies and roaches.

TMZ's report comes after Odom was spotted ordering drinks in a Sherman Oaks bar in late March, prior to taking part in the Kardashians' Easter Sunday gathering. That was reportedly extremely concerning to his estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, according to People:

Now, "Khloé is very worried about Lamar and his behavior," says the source. "But Lamar refuses to listen to her. He actually said to her, 'Nothing will happen to me. Look how I survived the last time.' "

Odom's recovery was anything but a certainty in the aftermath of the incident in Nevada. After reportedly suffering several strokes and damage to his kidneys, it took several days for him to resume breathing on his own and regain consciousness. another week to be able to get out of his hospital bed and begin taking his first literal steps back from the brink, and nearly three more months before he could be released from hospitalization and transferred to a private facility.

He continued to receive treatment and make strides in his recovery, though, eventually getting a clean enough bill of health to be cleared to travel across the country from Los Angeles to his native New York to attend Kanye West's Yeezy Season 3 fashion show/"The Life of Pablo" release party at Madison Square Garden in February, his first public appearance since his hospitalization. The following month, Odom attended a Lakers game at Staples Center as the guest of his longtime teammate and close friend Kobe Bryant.

Odom was also one of many former Lakers to join Kobe on the court following the final game of his 20-year career. He told Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier that night that he'd "never been better," that he planned to "get back on the court," and that he appreciated all the thoughts and prayers of the fans who'd been pulling for him to return to health.