The Last Dance: Dennis Rodman

The Last Dance: Dennis Rodman

Greatest role player of all-time

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

A player today watching episodes three and four of the Last Dance has been formally introduced to a different brand of basketball.

Those teams of the 1990’s operated in a different way on the court. While the attention was on the rise of Michael Jordan, many were introduced to the contribution by Scottie Pippen. Episode three helped the world to see one of the game’s most unique players. 

Dennis Rodman.

Before joining the Bulls on its journey to a second three-peat, Rodman played for the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs. In all these stops he accepted his role.

Rodman was known as a tenacious defender and rebounder. He was Draymond Green long before the current Golden State Warriors player.

“Dennis Rodman is a pest,” former Seattle Supersonics player and Hall of Fame Gary Payton said. “He is one of those players who changed the game with just  his presence.”

Fox Sports personality Chris Broussard may have put it best. Rodman is the “Greatest Role player of all-time.”

This is hard to argue.

Rodman is a five-time champion (Pistons – 2 and Bulls – 3). While playing with those teams, along with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, the Hall of Fame legend was known as a relentless rebounder. He finished his career with 11,954 rebounds. This was an average of 13.1 per game. This while averaging less than seven points per game. He has the 17th highest winning percentage of any player in NBA history according HoopsHype.com

He studied how basketballs bounced off the rim to position himself for a rebound. His basketball IQ was on another level.

The documentary pointed out Rodman’s dominance on the floor. However, some may misinterpret Rodman’s free-spirited approach to life as him being aloof.

Rodman went from being a shy introverted player in Detroit to a character in San Antonio. Things did not work out well for him in Texas. The Bulls brought him in and there were concerns of him not meshing with Jordan and Pippen.

When the Bulls needed him the most, Rodman stepped up when Pippen missed nearly 30 games due to injury. Rodman provided so much energy and was not going to let the team down.

No one could say anything negative about Dennis Rodman as a teammate. The things he did was something other guys were not willing to do.

“Dennis is what held us together,” Bulls coach Phil Jackson said.  

Rodman’s success in Chicago was not solely the chemistry between him with Jordan and Pippen. Rodman had a special bond with Jackson. They had a mutual respect for each other.

Jackson probably understood Rodman better than most because he was a similar player at North Dakota University and then for the New York Knicks.

This was evident when Rodman asked Jackson to take a 48-hour vacation in Las Vegas during the season after Pippen returned from injury. Jackson didn’t call management he called Jordan into the office.

His Airness was not pleased with the idea of Rodman taking a vacation in the middle of the season. Jackson allowed Rodman to take the time off. The relentless rebounder came back from Sin City rejuvenated helping the Bulls secure a sixth championship.

Rodman’s former coach in Detroit Chuck Daley said, “You don’t put a saddle on a mustang.”

Jackson allowed Rodman to be Rodman.