"While we support international goodwill and diplomacy in instances deemed appropriate ... it is important to clarify that the trip to North Korea led by Dennis Rodman and others was not sanctioned by the NBRPA and is not supported by our organization in any way," National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) Chairman Otis Birdsong said regarding Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea to play an exhibition game.

These comments came after 'The Worm' had a meltdown while being interviewed by CNN on national TV. Rodman angrily defended the Wednesday exhibition game which also featured retired NBA players such as Kenny Anderson, Vin Baker, Clifford Robinson, Charles Smith, Doug Christie, Craig Hodges, and Sleepy Floyd.

On the interview, the 5x NBA champion ranted:

"I don't give a rat's ass what the hell you think. I'm saying to you, look at these guys here, look at them ... they dared to do one thing, they came here."

His interview received mixed reactions, mostly negative.

However, he insisted that he will push for the exhibition match against the North Korea National Basketball Team, an event he calls 'basketball diplomacy.'

During the game, which also fell on North Korea president King Jong-un's birthday, Smith said that Rodman led a song number for the young leader. However, he cleared that he and the other players didn't sing along.

''We always tell Dennis that he can't sing. He is tone deaf,'' Smith said. ''He did it alone.''

Meanwhile, the family of an American held captive in North Korea blasted Rodman for the comments he made against his compatriot during the same interview.

"Do you understand what he did in this country?" Rodman asked referring to Kenneth Bae who was sentenced by Pyongyang to 15 years of hard labor. "No, no, no, you tell me, you tell me. Why is he held captive here in this country, why?"

Bae's sister, Chung, said that Dennis Rodman clearly "doesn't know anything about Kenneth or his detainment. I don't think he has any authority to speak or pass judgment on Kenneth, certainly."

She added that her family was appalled by Rodman's comments and he is only making matters worse.