Rodman signed by Jam

Bryce Alderton

The current lack of a permanent home arena of the American Basketball

Assn.’s Orange County Crush was the deciding factor that helped spur

former Newport Beach resident and seven-time NBA rebound champion

Dennis Rodman to seek his eventual release from the first-year

franchise, Darren Prince, Rodman’s agent, confirmed Wednesday.

“The [uncertainty surrounding the Crush’s home venue at the Orange

County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa] was [the main reason why Rodman

asked for his release],” Prince said of the 43-year-old Rodman, who

re-signed with the ABA’s Long Beach Jam on Tuesday in hopes of making

a speedy return to the NBA.

“There is no other place [Rodman] would rather play [than in

Orange County],” Prince said. “He has just as many fans [in Orange

County] as he does in Chicago or Detroit.”

Rodman played just more than two minutes of his only game in a

Crush uniform in the team’s home opener, a 124-123 victory over Las

Vegas Dec. 9 at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center, the temporary home of

Orange County’s first professional basketball franchise.

The Bren Center is serving as the team’s temporary home until the

portable tent, or “bubble arena,” on the speedway track at the

fairgrounds is complete, which remains unknown, Crush General Manager

Kevin Copeland said.

Prince learned of the Crush’s uncertain home future on Dec. 9 and

began discussions with team officials.

“They were more than understanding,” Prince said. “They agreed

that this was the best opportunity for [Rodman] to get back in the

NBA.”

Rodman rejoins a team he averaged 12 rebounds for in three games

en route to the ABA championship last season.

The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is scheduled to play

two games with the Jam (Jan. 23 and 28 against Utah and Tijuana,

respectively), who play their home games in the Pyramid.

Rodman was a member of NBA championship teams in Detroit and

Chicago, but has been out of the league since 2000.