Shaquille O’Neal, Stephen Curry, and Scottie Pippen, among many else, have all dabbled in crypto. Few athletes can claim the President himself showed interest in their coin. In a first for an athlete-backed coin, Lamar Odom strutted into President Trump’s exclusive meme-coin gala. But remember, he has launched this coin recently and yet seems to move quickly in the ranks, so what is the coin?

On May 14, the two-time NBA champ unveiled his latest venture: a meme coin called $ODOM. “We have successfully entered Trump’s Gala! Thank you to every brother and sister for your support and trust. Together, you’ve helped push $ODOM onto this stage ❤️”. The aim of this coin, as per Odom, is to build the world’s first “blockchain-driven philanthropy” model. Today, he updated about his visit to the Trump Gala on X.

“I’m just about to pass through security and officially walk into the Trump Gala. Honestly… I’m fired up. Think about it—what meme coin has ever done this? $ODOM isn’t just a token, it’s taking the stage at a presidential gala tonight!” Dressed in a sharp black suit, he marched in to a chorus of boos—protesters denouncing the Trump-crypto nexus. In fact, the boos were not only for him but also to approximate 200 other crypto enthusiasts who attended the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.

There were protestors outside who were not fully convinced about this initiative from President Trump. But Lamar Odom nonchalantly walked in, and that’s why he confidently wrote about the future of his coin. “Have you ever seen a founder be so bold? This is the most authentic soulful experience in crypto history. Tonight, $ODOM ignites the world.”

If you have questions about why a meme coin is in today’s market, the 45-year-old made it clear about his intentions. “I’ve looked death in the face and battled addiction to earn a second chance at life. Today, I hope to use the power of Web3 to help others find theirs.” But it seems not many believed in his project at first, that’s why he had to prove to the doubters that, in fact, he had received the invitation for the Gala.

Lamar Odom clears the air as his project takes off

Before dipping his feet into the controversial meme coin venture, the ex-Lakers star already had enough controversies. His previous marriage to socialite Khloe Kardashian and the rumors about him cheating and substance-abuse issues caused problems in their marriage. Learning from his addiction is battle is apparently the reason why the 2x NBA champion is confident about his next venture.

Per the $ODOM whitepaper, 5% of transaction fees will fund d–g-rehab facilities, mental-health education, and other philanthropy. Those tokens remain locked until the fund hits a $10 billion threshold, ensuring long-term dedication to sobriety and self-discipline.  To silence doubters, Odom shared a call with Trump Gala marketer Ben Johnson, who confirmed his invite after spotting Odom’s Instagram.

He said, “I gotta say, our director of marketing said, you know, oh, you know, someone put a fake name down on their form. They said they’re Lamar Odom. I’m glad I checked your Instagram.” The Instagram post is where the 2x NBA icon shared a post about the event. The 45-year-old even confirmed on the call that he was indeed attending the event. “Nah, it’s Lamar Odom, sir.” And today, he attended the exclusive gala, and the post on X garnered more than 1 million views.

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One criticism Odom has received is that by attending a Trump‐hosted crypto gala—an event marked by partisan controversy—Odom risks politicizing what he frames as a purely philanthropic venture. This might potentially alienate the very communities he aims to serve. Skeptics argue that meme coins, by nature, often prioritize hype over substantive impact. Also, by locking up funds in a “Public Welfare Fund” may delay or dilute actual charitable disbursements.

With its long-term locked philanthropy fund, deflationary mechanics, and high-profile endorsements, Lamar Odom aims to demonstrate that a meme coin can transcend speculation and deliver measurable social good.