National Basketball Association
Odom's stint in Spain over due to back injury
National Basketball Association

Odom's stint in Spain over due to back injury

Published Mar. 15, 2014 10:00 a.m. ET

VITORIA, Spain -- Lamar Odom's brief venture into European basketball has been cut short by a back injury, according to his Spanish club.

Baskonia said on Saturday that Odom's personal doctors in New York have ruled him unfit to play for two months, meaning he has "finished his present contract." Odom had traveled to New York with Baskonia's permission.

Odom, a former two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakes, signed a two-month deal with the Basque team last month after being out of contract since the close of the last NBA season.

Odom thanked his new Spanish fans and said he still "represents" Baskonia.

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"I am going to try and get back on the court and give you guys a show," he told the club website.

Odom, 34, looked rusty in his total of 23 minutes played in two games for Baskonia, scoring just two points.

"Lamar Odom as an athlete, he is a little embarrassed," Odom said. "But, at the same time, I am proud to be able to say that I am hurt and that I have a team that understands that I am injured and they are still supportive. That means a lot."

Baskonia said it would "leave the door open" to resigning Odom when he recovers.

This marks another bump in a rough year for the power forward, who averaged a career-low 4.0 points and 5.9 rebounds last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He was arrested for drunken driving last summer before getting divorced from wife Khloe Kardashian, who he starred with in a reality television show, in December.

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