Former NBA star Lamar Odom was hospitalized on Tuesday after he was found unresponsive at a Nevada brothel, law enforcement officials said.

Odom, 35, the ex-husband of reality television personality Khloe Kardashian, suffered a "medical emergency" at the Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada, about 80 miles (50 kms) northwest of Las Vegas, the Nye County Sheriff's Office said in media release.

Odom was stabilized at the scene and was prepared to be airlifted to a Las Vegas-area hospital, but the "stature" of the basketball player made it impossible to transport him by helicopter, the release said.

Odom, whose career in the NBA included seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, stands 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters) tall.

The sheriff's office said an investigation was being conducted and gave no further details about Odom's condition or what caused the emergency.

A call to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, where Odom was being treated, was not immediately returned.

The celebrity website TMZ reported that Odom had been at the brothel for days and a woman there found him unconscious in his VIP suite.

Meanwhile, the entire LA Lakers team led prayers for their former teammate.

Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr tweeted: "Prayers all the way UP for my brother Lamar Odom." He continued, "I can't help but to be up right now. Thinking about my ex teammate/ friend LO. On my knees praying... please God let him pull thru."

Assistant Lakers coach Mark Madsen tweeted: "Thoughts and prayers with Lamar Odom – everyone on the team plane thinking, praying and pulling for well being."

Caron Butler also tweeted: "Praying for you LO"

The LA Lakers also released a statement saying they had no other information.

Additional reporting by Reuters.