Lamar Odom has announced that he'll be making his return to pro basketball in The Dubai International Basketball Championship on February 1, 2019. Odom, who will be representing Mighty Sports from the Philippines, previously hoped to be ready to play in the Chinese Basketball Association, but didn't feel he was where he needed to be physically.
He posted the following on Instagram:
"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."
As noted, the 6'10 southpaw still plans to play in Ice Cube's Big 3 League, though he'll have go through the combine like everybody else.
Odom has not played in the NBA since the 2012-13 season when he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. The two-time NBA champion, and Sixth Man of the Year Award winner in 2010-11, averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game during the course of his career.
The 39-year old forward recently revealed that he had 12 strokes and six heart attacks while in a coma following his 2015 overdose at Dennis Hof's Love Ranch South in Pahrump, Nevada. During a sit down interview on Kevin Hart's Youtube talk show series "Cold As Balls," L.O. old told Hart, "All my doctors that see me say I'm a walking miracle."