Ross lives near Dallas and was attending Monday night's NIT game between LSU and SMU.

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He says he woke to a phone loaded with messages from people concerned about his well-being. He went online and found The New York Post had run a story identifying him as a man found dead and buried on a beach.

The newspaper later corrected the story.

The 32-year-old Ross says he called loved ones and posted on Facebook to "let everybody know I was OK."

He said: "I mean, it was a tough day, man. Mostly for my family and friends."

Ross played seven NBA seasons with five teams.