LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Retired basketball star Dennis Rodman announced on Friday he wants to return to the NBA at the age of 42, saying he has been training hard during the past four months as he prepared for a comeback.
The five-time NBA champion, known for his love of wild parties and cross-dressing, said that after two years of "going nuts" he had headed for the gym and lost 18 pounds during the last four months and got his body fat down to 10 percent.
Rodman, blue-haired and with rings through his ears, nose and bottom lip, said he was trying to bring "life, color and fun into the game of basketball."
Rodman's career ended on a low note in March 2000 when he was released by the Dallas Mavericks after being with the team for less than a month during which time he had been ejected twice, suspended once and fined by the league.
There have been rumors linking him with the Sacramento Kings and the star listed them along with the Los Angeles Lakers as the teams he would most want to join.
"I live in California so I would say the Lakers or Kings (would be preferred teams)....I don't want to go to a losing team," he told a news conference.
Rodman also listed the current NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs, along with the Eastern Conference champions the New Jersey Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves as other teams he would consider joining.
The former NBA star said he believed he could play at least 20 to 25 minutes and average 10 rebounds a game.
"This is a serious bid right now for me to come back," he told reporters.
Rodman was a member of two championship Detroit Pistons (1989 and 1990) and also won three titles with the Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997 and 1998).
He is best known for his aggressive rebounding and rarely takes a shot. He led the NBA in rebounding for seven consecutive years despite measuring only 6 feet 8 inches (178 cm). Many of the NBA's top rebounders are more than 7 feet tall.
Rodman quickly dismissed suggestions that he might have to accept a contract which put strict controls on his behavior which has often put him at odds with referees.
"I'm going to be Dennis Rodman. That is the reason you've got me, that is the reason you want me...I'm an entertainer," he said.
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=3118210
The five-time NBA champion, known for his love of wild parties and cross-dressing, said that after two years of "going nuts" he had headed for the gym and lost 18 pounds during the last four months and got his body fat down to 10 percent.
Rodman, blue-haired and with rings through his ears, nose and bottom lip, said he was trying to bring "life, color and fun into the game of basketball."
Rodman's career ended on a low note in March 2000 when he was released by the Dallas Mavericks after being with the team for less than a month during which time he had been ejected twice, suspended once and fined by the league.
There have been rumors linking him with the Sacramento Kings and the star listed them along with the Los Angeles Lakers as the teams he would most want to join.
"I live in California so I would say the Lakers or Kings (would be preferred teams)....I don't want to go to a losing team," he told a news conference.
Rodman also listed the current NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs, along with the Eastern Conference champions the New Jersey Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves as other teams he would consider joining.
The former NBA star said he believed he could play at least 20 to 25 minutes and average 10 rebounds a game.
"This is a serious bid right now for me to come back," he told reporters.
Rodman was a member of two championship Detroit Pistons (1989 and 1990) and also won three titles with the Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997 and 1998).
He is best known for his aggressive rebounding and rarely takes a shot. He led the NBA in rebounding for seven consecutive years despite measuring only 6 feet 8 inches (178 cm). Many of the NBA's top rebounders are more than 7 feet tall.
Rodman quickly dismissed suggestions that he might have to accept a contract which put strict controls on his behavior which has often put him at odds with referees.
"I'm going to be Dennis Rodman. That is the reason you've got me, that is the reason you want me...I'm an entertainer," he said.
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=3118210
