Ex-NBA star Lamar Odom to play for Philippines' Mighty Sports in Dubai tiff

MANILA, Philippines – Former NBA star Lamar Odom announced his return to professional basketball, saying he will suit up for a Philippine teem seeing action in the Dubai International Basketball Championship in February next year.

The 39-year-old Odom, who last played for the New York Knicks in 2014, took to Instagram to make the announcement, confirming his stint with Mighty Sports in the Dubai tournament.

 

 

 

 

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I'd like to announce that I will be playing in The Dubai International Basketball Championship this February 1st 2019 !!!!!!! ????I will be representing team @mightysports_ph from the Philippines with my 4ever #7 ! To me this is a great warming up for the @thebig3 !! It's been a minute since I've professionally competed and I hope to be as explosive as I used to be! I was hoping to be ready for the Chinese CBA earlier this year but I didn't feel that I was physically were I wanted to be. ( yet) I needed more time to recover from my multiple strokes and hearts attacks. Im not giving up and going in full force !! Patience and moving FORWARD is KEY! Special thanks to @femaleagentsr @charlestiu for making me part of this amazing tournament in Dubai! #teamreyes ! This wouldn't be possible without the support of my kids, @destiny_odom @lamar.morales.odom, MY FANS, my team @jared_dyem @bryantaustin23 @xpesports @billythakid23 @m2exec @showtimepersonaldevelopment @willvlo @therealyasin @ninetyplusofficial @mr2rchiang @chaselucid @saamzangenehlaw @hemplucid ! Thanks @iamzoul for building the road to my comeback life chapter ! LETSGOO ????????#newpages #2019 #dubai #manila #basketball

A post shared by Lamar Odom (@lamarodom) on Dec 18, 2018 at 12:19pm PST

Odom said he originally intended to lend his services to the Chinese Basketball League, but was still physically not ready. He added that he will be using the Dubai tournament as a preparation ground for BIG3, a major 3x3 league in the US.

Drafted fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1999, Odom went on to play for the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat and the Knicks, winning championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 as a vital cog for the squad playing alongside Kobe Bryant. Other highlights of his career include being named the Sixth Man of the Year in 2011 and being part of the US national team that won the gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey.

He has been involved in a variety of off-court controversies but has since been on recovery.