Lamar Odom admits to 'dark time,' says 'absent' father is his 'downfall'

Lamar Odom averaged 4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Clippers. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Sport) In an emotional message posted to Twitter Tuesday, free agent

Lamar Odom averaged 4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Clippers. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Sport)

In an emotional message posted to Twitter Tuesday, free agent forward Lamar Odom admitted that he is currently experiencing a "dark time," while also taking his "absent" father to task for passing on his "demons" and making disparaging comments about his wife and her family.

Odom -- who was arrested in August on DUI charges and briefly entered a rehabilitation center, according to reports -- vented in detail after his father, Joe, discussed Odom's wife, reality television star Khloe Kardashian Odom, and her family in an extended interview earlier Tuesday. Odom has previously stated that his father is a "heroin addict."

"Won't continue 2 speak on this but I have got 2 let this out real quick. I have let this man and many others get away with a lot of s---. He wasn't there 2 raise me. He was absent ALL of my life due to his own demons.

"My mother and grandmother raised me. Queens raised me. For the first time since they left, came a blessing of a FAMILY that I married into. FAMILY. That man wasn't even invited to my wedding. He has never met my mother in law and some of my other family.

"How can a man who has NOT once called me to check on my well being have the nerve to talk so recklessly about his own "son". He is my downfall! His own demons may be the ONLY thing he gave 2 me. He disrespecting the ONLY FAMILY that has loved me without expecting anything in return. They are the ONLY ones that have been here consistently 4 me during this dark time.

"Only person 2 blame is myself. Say what you want about me but leave the ones who have done nothing but protect and love me out of this! This goes out to everyone!"

In an interview with RadarOnline.com, Joe Odom claimed that the Kardashians "cursed" and "brought down" Lamar and suggested that a divorce would be the "best thing" for his son because Khloe Kardashian Odom is "controlling."

Earlier this month, Lamar Odom denied have a drug problem or needing professional help in a brief video interview with TMZSports.com. He also said that he would "hopefully" play during the 2013-14 season.

The 33-year-old Odom is an unrestricted free agent after spending last season with the Clippers, with whom he averaged a career-low four points and 5.9 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game. Odom has spent 12 of his 14 NBA seasons in Los Angeles, including five years with the Clippers and seven years with the Lakers, with whom he won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.

A skilled, versatile forward who was named 2011 Sixth Man of the Year has seen his career go off the rails in recent years. In December 2011, the Lakers traded him to the Mavericks after reports of a dispute with management. Odom played just 50 games in Dallas before he was essentially told to remain home. The Mavericks traded him to the Clippers last summer, and while he did appear in all 82 games last season, his production was a fraction of what he offered during the championship seasons with the Lakers.

ESPN.com reported in August that Odom’s friends were “trying to get him help for an unspecified drug problem” in light of reports that suggested he was “missing” and having marital problems.

Clippers signed forward Antawn Jamison