Lamar Odom Leaves Mavericks to Be with Ailing Father

The NBA season Lamar Odom would likely just wish to forget took a tragic, personal turn this week.

Already struggling on the court - the power forward is averaging just 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds his first year in Dallas - the reality star missed his team's game against the  Lakers on Wednesday and will return some time after this weekend's All-Star break.

The reason for his absence?

"Lamar's dad had a health scare. It's very serious," an insider tells E! News, although Lamar's father reportedly told Radar Online that he's "depressed," but doing "a lot better" now.

Lamar and Khloe Kardashian are spending time with the former's family in Los Angeles while Joe Odom battles this illness and Dallas coach Rick Carlisle expects his bench player will return early next week.