Dennis Rodman will go down in history as one of the greatest defenders of all time. The five-time NBA champion was a crucial player on two of the greatest teams in NBA history. During his time with the Detroit Pistons, Rodman was a key figure in the ‘Bad Boys’ squad that went on to win the 1989 and 1990 NBA championships. And then after that, he eventually joined the player he would consistently battle in Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
With the Bulls, Rodman created one of the first big threes in the NBA, alongside Jordan, and Scottie Pippen. The trio was dominant during their time together, winning three consecutive NBA titles between 1996 and 1998. With a career and resumé like that, it is hard to believe that Dennis Rodman would have any regrets during his time.
But he does have one major regret. On what was arguably one of the best nights for Rodman in the basketball world, he revealed the admiration, love, and respect he had for his wife and family. Rodman noted that his wife had to raise their children by herself while he was on the road and committed to the sport. He wished that he could have been a better father to his children, he said emotionally while they sat in the audience.
“She has tolerated everything for me, for 11 years. She has raised 3 beautiful kids right there…She’s been a mother and a father. And I’ve been very much appreciative of what she has done. And I just wish, anyone says ‘you have any regrets in your career being a basketball player?’, I say I have one regret, I wish I was a better father.”
Rodman’s hall of fame speech was one of the most eye-opening in recent memory. Fans got a glimpse at the man behind the flashy, eccentric character that dominated opposition players in the NBA of the 90s. He showed the toll a career in basketball can have on your personal life, but he persevered to go down as an all-time great.
