Former Lakers and reality TV star Lamar Odom to play in China

NEW YORK - Lamar Odom, who last played pro basketball five years ago, announced Thursday on Instagram that he will make a comeback with an unnamed team in China.

Writing from Rotterdam, Netherlands, the former Los Angeles Lakers forward posted, "I will be playing in China! God is good! Thanks lord for giving me another chance in life and thank you fans for your ... love and support during all those hard years. Never give up on yourself and keep believing that only god can create the miracles you're hoping for. Basketball and my children have always been the light in my life and this is where my focus is right now."

Odom, 38, then thanked Stephon Marbury for being his inspiration. Marbury enjoyed an eight-year stint in the Chinese Basketball Association after playing 13 years in the NBA. Since he last appeared in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012-13, Odom battled drug addiction.

He was back in the headlines in 2015 when he spent several days in a coma after being found unresponsive at a Nevada brothel. At the time, he was estranged from his wife, Khloe Kardashian, though the two briefly were reunited before divorcing in 2016.

Last year, Odom wrote in a Players Tribune post, "I'm sober now. But it's an everyday struggle. I have an addiction. I'll always have an addiction. It never goes away. I mean, I want to get high right now. But I know that I can't if I want to be here for my children."

The New York Post reported that the Shenzhen Leopards are the most likely Chinese team to land Odom as he had stated recently his intention to move to Shenzhen for a business opportunity.

The 6-foot-10 Odom played on championship teams with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 as part of his 14 years in the NBA. In addition to his seven years with the Lakers, he began and ended his NBA career with the Clippers, and he had single-season stints with the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks. Odom averaged 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 961 NBA games. The Clippers made him a first-round draft pick (fourth overall) out of Rhode Island in 1999.

I have some good news to share with you on this beautiful day from The Netherlands. My heart literally warms up now I can finally share with you all that I'm returning to play Basketball. I will be playing in China ! God is good ! Thanks lord for giving me another chance in life and thank you fans for your the love and support during all those hard years. Never give up on yourself and keep believing that only god can create the miracles you're hoping for. Basketball and my children have always been the light in my life and this is where my focus is right now. Thank you @mr2rchiang and @iamzoul @georgeboss77 for believing in me and the opportunity to start over again! Thank you @starburymarbury for being my inspiration 🙏🏿🏆❤️ LETS GOO ! #china #basketball #yes

A post shared by Lamar Odom(@lamarodom) on Jul 26, 2018 at 5:40am PDT