Kobe Bryant thinks Lamar Odom has made "remarkable" progress.
The 35-year-old sportsman was hospitalised earlier this month following a drug and alcohol-fuelled binge at a brothel and though his chances of survival were initially thought to be low, he is now beginning to recover and his friend and former teammate is delighted with how well he is doing.
Kobe said: "He's a brother, above everything else. It's important to see him get back on his feet.
"It's amazing to see him doing so well. It truly is remarkable."
The 37-year-old basketball player - who played with Lamar for seven seasons - says his friend's ordeal has "put things in perspective" for him.
He added: "It puts things in perspective a little bit more. This is what we do. This is not who we are. Sometimes basketball can get in the way of life and in the way of living."
A source previously claimed Lamar, who is currently on dialysis, "definitely" needs a kidney transplant and doctors are still trying to establish the extent of damage to his body.
The insider said: "He's doing a tiny bit better. But he has a very long road back to full recovery - if that."
Bang Showbiz