Remember Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf?

The now 40-year old has signed with a Japanese club, Kyoto Hannaryz, in the country’s basketball league’s second division (BJ-League).

The 6-1 guard played nine seasons in the NBA, last putting on a Vancouver Grizzlies jersey back in the 2000-01 season.  Yes, the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Following his last season in the NBA, Abdul-Rauf would sit out two years before making a comeback in the European and Asian basketball leagues.

Abdul Rauf would spend the next six years playing for Ural Great Perm (Russia), Sedima Roseto (Italy), Aris Thessaloniki (Greece), and Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia).

Formerly Chris Jackson, Abdul-Rauf was a college star playing at Lousiana State University with Shaquille O’Neal.  

His exploits as a freshman had many thinking he was the next big thing:

“Jackson’s 48 points in his third varsity game, a 111-109 overtime loss to Louisiana Tech. Forget his already mythic NCAA freshman-record 53 points in his fifth game, a 111-101 victory at Florida. Put aside the memories of his scoring 15 of LSU’s last 17 points at Maryland or every one of the Tigers’ final 16 at Kentucky. Or even his incredible 50 points last Saturday against Tennessee in a crucial SEC game that put the Tigers one game ahead in the conference.” (CNNSI)

As a Sophomore, Jackson was drafted third overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets and would spend his first six season with the club before moving on to Sacramento and finally Vancouver. Over his NBA career, Abdul-Rauf averaged 14.6 points in 586 games.

Abdul-Rauf’s first game with Kyoto is October 3rd, 2009.