Free-agent forward Lamar Odom has begun his battle against an unspecified drug problem in a Los Angeles hotel room, with family and friends, according to ESPN.

A TMZ.com report on Sunday (August 25, 2013) suggested that Odom - who's married to the reality star Khloe Kardashian - had been missing for 72 hours, though this was disputed shortly afterwards. His agent Jeff Schwartz would not reveal the basketball star's whereabouts, although he told ESPN's Marc Stein that his client and friend was safe, saying, "Lamar is not missing. His wife knows exactly where he is."

TMZ's reports have focused squarely on Odom's alleged extensive drug use, though Khloe Kardashian reacted angrily to the on-going speculation, tweeting, "Really hard to sit here and listen to people talk s--- about my family."

Odom spent last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, and has been pursued by the Lakers this year. Without disclosing his immediate plans, Schwartz said, "Playing in the NBA is still very much a part of Lamar's plans."

Lamar starred in his own reality television series, Khloe & Lamar, that debuted in April 2011, following his family life in Los Angeles. The series is the third spin-off from the Keeping Up with the Kardashians series, which follows the famous family and their various pursuits. 

A worrying report earlier this week suggested Odom was "deep into drugs" while he was playing for the Dallas Mavericks and there is evidence he was doing the same while playing for the Lakers. Sources connected to the Westin hotel in Memphis tell entertainment  website TMZ.com that when Lamar stayed in one of the guest rooms while playing for the Mavericks, he left "major carpet damage" including "quarter-sized burn marks."

The damage was said to be so bad that the hotel redecorated the room. 

Khloe Kardashian Lamar OdomKhloe Kardashian [L] and Husband Lamar Odom [R]