Besides being the greatest rebounder of all time and one of the hardest defenders in NBA history, Dennis Rodman was known for his love for parties and the wild nights he had every week.
His reputation was well known around the league, which opened many doors for him, including appearances on magazines or TV shows, showing his sparky personality whenever he could. In the 90s, Dennis was ridiculously famous, even challenging Michael Jordan’s popularity when both played together in Chicago.
The parties he organized were something else, and Shaquille O’Neal saw it firsthand. After finishing his stint with the Chicago Bulls, Rodman signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, which allowed him to live the Hollywood lifestyle, linking up with up-and-coming names in the showbiz.
In an excerpt from his book, “Shaq Talks Back,” the 4x NBA champion talked about his time playing and partying together with Rodman. One night, he attended one of these events, and he ran into some of the best actors today while realizing Rodman was wild.
Via Basketball Network:
“I’ll give him this: He was funny. Like, he never took a shower after the game. After a hard game playing forty minutes, he’d just put his stuff on and walk right out. Next thing I know, I’d see him at some club that night with about thirty girls on him—those crazy, techno, ecstasy highlight parties. I once walked into one of those parties. Leonardo DiCaprio’s there. Robert Downey, Jr., he’s there. All these cats making weird faces. It’s dark as hell. People are drinking. D. Rod popping Cristalle champagne, showing off. A lot of stars. A lot of girls, some of them taking their tops off. I just got out of there. Quick.”
Rodman’s parties were unforgettable for many. Toni Kukoc once said he needed 10 days to recover after going out with Dennis. Just like he did on the court, The Worm left his everything on the dance floor, going off every night. That’s why he was in jail over 100 times.
Dennis took advantage of his status, dating several high-profile girls and being friends with incredible actors. He hasn’t stopped, even becoming friends with presidents, which says a lot about his personality.
It’s crazy to see how a shy person became this eccentric man that did whatever he wanted, enjoyed his life, and made plenty of memories. Not everybody was made for his lifestyle, and it seems that Shaq was part of that group.
