Dennis Rodman is heading back to North Korea
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman plans to travel to North Korea next week to train its basketball team, a trip unaffected by the execution of leader Kim Jong Un's uncle.
Jang Song Thaek's execution, announced early Friday in Pyongyang, marked an unprecedented fall from grace of one of the most powerful figures in the country as well as its most serious political upheaval in decades. Jang was North Korea's No. 2 official -- behind only Kim.
Rodman considers Kim a close friend and has a long-scheduled trip that starts Monday to train the national team. Rodman also has organized an exhibition game in January in Pyongyang to celebrate Kim's birthday. Rodman could reveal the roster next week. He says former professional basketball players have committed to the game, though he declined to reveal names.
Rodman, known as much for his piercings, tattoos and bad behavior as he was for basketball, was the highest-profile American to meet Kim since Kim inherited power from father Kim Jong Il in 2011. He traveled to the secretive state for the first time in February with the Harlem Globetrotters for an HBO series produced by New York-based VICE television.
"Yes, I'm going to North Korea to train the basketball team," he told The Associated Press by phone. "I'm going to bring American players over there. Yes I am. I'm going to be the most famous person in the world when you see American people holding hands and hoping the doors can be opened. If they can. If they can. If they can. I'm going. I'm going back for his birthday. Special."
Rodman has been criticized for not talking about North Korea's human rights record, described as one of the world's worst by activists, the U.S. State Department and North Korean defectors. The defectors have repeatedly testified about the government's alleged use of indiscriminate killings, rapes, beatings and prison camps holding as many as 120,000 people deemed opponents of authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un, the third generation of his family to rule.
-
Suns reportedly sign Mike Budenholzer to lucrative five-year coaching deal
Austin Rivers calls out James Jones for career critique; Jones responds
Colin Cowherd, LeBron James, JJ Redick trade barbs over backwards hat theory
-
Glen 'Big Baby' Davis sentenced to 40 months in prison over fraud scheme
Los Angeles Lakers next head coach odds: Budenholzer, Redick favorites
NBA Champions by Year: Complete list of NBA Finals winners
-
2024 NBA Awards Winners Tracker: Nuggets' Nikola Jokic wins third MVP in four years
Pacers reportedly send complaint over 78 calls after Game 2 loss to Knicks
2024 NBA Playoff Bracket: Updated schedule, scores, standings
-
Suns reportedly sign Mike Budenholzer to lucrative five-year coaching deal
Austin Rivers calls out James Jones for career critique; Jones responds
Colin Cowherd, LeBron James, JJ Redick trade barbs over backwards hat theory
-
Glen 'Big Baby' Davis sentenced to 40 months in prison over fraud scheme
Los Angeles Lakers next head coach odds: Budenholzer, Redick favorites
NBA Champions by Year: Complete list of NBA Finals winners
-
2024 NBA Awards Winners Tracker: Nuggets' Nikola Jokic wins third MVP in four years
Pacers reportedly send complaint over 78 calls after Game 2 loss to Knicks
2024 NBA Playoff Bracket: Updated schedule, scores, standings