Lil Wayne tweets 'RIP Lamar'

Rapper Lil Wayne has tweeted “RIP” in a message that appears to refer to basketball player Lamar Odom, who was hospitalised on Tuesday night in Las Vegas after being found unconscious at a Nevada brothel.

“R.I.P LO Dam man. My blessings to ur fam and friends,” tweeted Lil Wayne at around 5pm UAE time — about 5am in Nevada.

Odom’s former teammate JR Smith appear to confirm the player — who found fame beyond the basketball court as the one-time husband of reality star Khloe Kardashian — had died.

In a comment on an Instagram post of a picture of a young Odom, Smith wrote: “RIP LO damn man I can’t believe this... If this isn’t a sign I don’t know what is!!! This life is so much bigger then basketball an any other sport! I can’t imagine what he was going through but I know he could have had some better people in his corner! Life doesn’t care how much money you made or how man championships you have when its time to go it’s time to go! Some people say “it’s easy to be happy you have millions!” With all the money that comes trust an believe it comes with just as much heartache! Learning a balance is key never get to high on the highs an never get to low on the lows! #RIPLO”

The post was also made early Wednesday morning US time.

Odom’s representative asked fans to disregard rumours about his condition, which media have reported as “critical”.

TMZ reported he was in a coma, breathing with the assistance of a hospital ventilator and having heart failure.

Kardashian, her mother Kris and sister Kim travelled to Nevada on Tuesday evening to be at his bedside, as did basketball star Kobe Bryant.