On Oct. 2, Lamar Odom was surrounded by demons and dark images. Still, despite the grave images around him, he looked as happy as he's been in a long time, for he was actually at Universal Studios in Los Angeles for the opening of Halloween Horror Nights.

Exactly one year ago, though, he was walking down a real life path of darkness that nearly had fatal consequences. On Oct. 13, 2015, the former basketball star was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel, having overdosed on cocaine and herbal Viagra. His estranged wife Khloe Kardashian and her family rushed to his side.

For days he was in a coma and many thought he could die.

What a difference a year makes.

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There's no doubt that the former NBA all-star still has his demons and it's a daily struggle, but he has taken huge strides, as well. In March, he attended a Los Angeles Laker's game and was given a standing ovation from the fans -- it was one of his first pubic outings since Oct. 13. In April, a recovering Lamar attended former teammate Kobe Bryant's last NBA game. There, he spoke to Entertainment Tonight about his state of mind.

"I've never been better, especially after tonight," Lamar said, adding that Kobe "is the world, learned so much from him off the court, on the court, everything kinda translates and life is beautiful."

There have been bumps in the road too, though. Khloe, who stuck by him through his hospitalization and rehab, filed for divorce for a second time after her ex was photographed drinking again. Lamar has acknowledged that he does drink, but says he keeps it under control. That wasn't the case in July, though, when he was drunk, vomiting and removed from an airplane in Los Angeles.

"I mean, it gets tough, especially if so much gets speculated," he told ET about people criticizing his choices. "Only a few people know the truth, and I just keep that close to my heart."

Khloe, who has moved on with a new boyfriend, recently said that she fears that Lamar could slip back into his old ways. In an August episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardshians," a friend told Khloe that Lamar was hanging with "bad guys" again.

"Nothing is going to wake him up, that's just the way it is," she said. "This is Lamar."

She later said, "Everyone wants to see Lamar do well and succeed at life. Everyone was rooting for Lamar, except him."

Lamar has seemingly kept a low profile throughout the year and especially in the several months leading up to the one-year anniversary of that tragic day at the Love Ranch. He did guest host a party at a New York club in September, but he reportedly abstained from alcohol.

E! News says Lamar has been spending time with his kids, taking them to dinners and amusement parks -- like that day at Universal Studios earlier this month.

A friend recently told E! that when Lamar is in New York, he hangs out with old friends from childhood and visits Rhode Island to see college pals from the University of Rhode Island who still live there. That friend said there is almost always alcohol at these meet ups but that Lamar refrains from drinking.

An insider told E!, "He's in a really good place at the moment."

And that is all great news because considering where he was exactly one year ago to the day, this was a moment he almost didn't live to experience.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/ins...ose/ar-AAiVdYC