Rodman gets Jam session

Former NBA standout Dennis Rodman, a Newport Beach resident, has

found a stage to showcase his talents as he tries to return to the

NBA.

The seven-time former NBA rebounding champion signed with the Long

Beach Jam of the American Basketball Association, the team announced

Monday.

Rodman, 42, who has yet to entice an NBA team to make his comeback

a reality, hopes to display his abilities with the Jam. He played in

the NBA for 14 seasons with five teams, the last of which, the Dallas

Mavericks, released him after only 12 games on March 8, 2000.

Rodman won’t begin practicing with the team until early January.

He hopes to play his first game Jan. 16, when the Jam plays host to

Fresno at the Long Beach State Pyramid.

“I look forward to suiting up with the Jam and playing basketball

again,” Rodman said in a team press release. “My ultimate goal is to

get back to the NBA.”

Jam Coach Earl Cureton, who played with Rodman with the Detroit

Pistons, believes Rodman will enhance the team, now 9-2 with a win

Sunday and sitting atop the seven-team league.