The relationship with Dennis Rodman and North Korea dictator Kim Jong-un, whom Rodman described as a "friend for life" just became even more bizarre.
On Monday, the Chicago Bulls legend announced he's been invited to bring a team of 12 former NBA players to play in a basketball tournament in North Korea early next year. He would also be training the North Korean national basketball team for the 2016 Olympics.
The former NBA star, who recently returned from a second trip to North Korea to visit Kim Jong-un, said he would try to assemble a team that includes Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen to play in the tournament, which is scheduled for next January, reports USA Today Sports.
"I'm not a joke. Take me seriously," Rodman said at a press conference in New York City, adding that Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is "friend for life," reports Time.
Rodman's handlers boasted that he was the first foreigner to hold Kim Jong-un's newborn daughter, who he says is named Ju-ae. Rodman has described Kim as "a good dad [who] has a beautiful family."
The basketball Hall of Famer told reporters at the Monday morning news conference that he also plans to interview Kim, who was recently accused by a South Korean newspaper of sending his ex-girlfriend to her execution. It would be Kim's first televised interview, Rodman said.
"If I pull this off, I asked [Kim] to come to New York to a Knicks game," Rodman said. "And what did he say? 'That would be amazing.'"
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