Earvin "Magic" Johnson really wants to see his friend pull through.
The former Los Angeles Laker spoke about his fellow purple and gold player Lamar Odom's tragic hospitalization during the Habitat for Humanity Builders Ball in L.A. tonight, and what he said will tug at your heart strings.
"It's a tough situation for those who have known him and also those who are in the NBA family, and then probably all the fans here in Los Angeles and all the other cities that he played in, because of the fact that this is a young man that thrilled us all with his talents," he said. "But for me personally, I got a chance to know him and got to be friends with him, and he would always bounce things off [me], because when he came out, everybody compared him to myself—big man that could handle the ball—so we had that whole dynamic that we had together."
According to Johnson, "Lamar did so much for so many people. People don't realize he had such a big heart and has such a big heart. He blessed so many kids, people he didn't even know. Rookies that came and played for the Lakers, [he] bought them suits, tailor-made suits. I mean, this is who he is. We're hoping and praying that he can pull through and that he'll be OK. If that happens, we all have to now rally around him and help him move forward in his life."
"We're praying for him to pull through," he added. "I know this is a crucial time, so we've all just got to send up our prayers and hope that everything works out."
What would Johnson do if he were able to see Lamar today? "First of all, if he was well, I would bring him a bag of Skittles, because that was his thing, right? Candy was his thing. He loved candy," the NBA legend said with a smile. "I just want to see the smile, because I know he's OK."
Magic first broke his silence about Lamar this morning when he tweeted the following:
Many NBA stars and other celebrities have turned to social media to wish Lamar the best and pray for his recovery, but it's the Los Angeles Lakers, Lamar's former team, who are really focusing on their teammate right now.
Mychal Thompson, former Laker, father of NBA star Klay Thompson and current Lakers broadcaster tells E! News exclusively that the team is keeping Lamar in their thoughts at all times. "We are all currently praying for Lamar and wish him the best," Mychal tells us.
"The team hasn't made an announcement yet. We've just seen the reports on the Internet and our prayers are with Lamar and his family."
The 60-year-old retired basketball star also says that many of the players are going to travel to the hospital to visit their friend when they get the chance. "I'm sure if the guys get a day off, like Kobe [Bryant], Metta [World Peace] and some of the guys, first chance they get they will try to see him I would imagine," he explained.
However, Kobe didn't even wait until he got a day off. The Black Mamba rushed to join Khloe at Odom's bedside on Tuesday evening after leaving a Los Angeles Lakers game in Las Vegas early for "personal reasons."
The basketball player was seen entering the hospital late Tuesday evening and leaving hours later with Lakers' general manager Mitch Kupchak.
The 35-year-old former NBA star was rushed to a hospital on Tuesday after being found unconscious in a Nevada brothel. Khloe, accompanied by and her mother Kris Jenner and pregnant sister Kim Kardashian, flew from California to see him. A hospital source told E! News on Wednesday morning that Odom is "in a coma and hasn't woken up or responded." Jackson, who also visited him, said doctors say he is recovering. There has been no official comment from the medical center.
The hospital source had told E! News earlier in the day that it was likely Odom had suffered an accidental overdose, adding that doctors found evidence of crack cocaine and "virtually every drug imaginable" in his system, and then may have had an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot preventing blood flow to the brain and is often associated with overdoses of a cocaine and other drugs. He likely has brain damage as a result, the source said.
For more on Lamar's condition and how Khloe is coping, watch Live From E! on Eonline.com at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT and tune into E! News Thursday at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.