Dennis Rodman has always been one of basketball’s most unpredictable voices, and he reminded everyone why during a recent stream with Neon. While many former players gripe about the massive contracts being handed out to today’s stars, Rodman made it clear he isn’t one of them.
“Because it wasn’t all about money, it was all about playing, man. You know, it’s the love of the game. Even when you see people around the world, man, and you just watch them, a lot of old players are really bitter. And I’m not bitter.”
“I don’t give a s**t if you make more money than me, I don’t give a damn. Just give me a dollar. I’m working it.”
In an era where the average NBA salary has ballooned to nearly $12 million per season, with supermax deals exceeding $300 million and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becoming the first player to hit $80 million annually, it’s easy to understand why some older stars feel left behind. Many Hall of Famers made only a fraction of what modern role players earn today. But Rodman insists money was never his motivator.
For Rodman, his drive came from the game itself, not the paycheck. That attitude set him apart from many of his peers, both then and now.
Rodman didn’t stop there. On the same stream, he revisited the endless GOAT debate, declaring Michael Jordan over LeBron James, while also insisting Kobe Bryant deserves to be in the conversation. His reasoning? Jordan’s game was “sexy,” while LeBron, in his words, plays like “a f***ing dump truck.”
Rodman also wandered into tales from his globe-trotting life off the court, recalling trips to Russia where he met President Vladimir Putin, top models, and even received a Lamborghini as a gift. He then pivoted to his longtime friendship with Kim Jong Un, casually revealing that the North Korean leader once told him he wanted to visit America.
Rodman’s stance on money in today’s NBA stands out because it reflects both his personality and his era. He was never motivated by wealth, endorsements, or fame. For him, it was about playing hard, competing, and leaving everything on the floor. That’s why he still shrugs off the financial comparisons between generations.
While plenty of former stars complain they were “born in the wrong era,” Rodman refuses to join them. His legacy is already secure: one of the toughest defenders and greatest rebounders in league history. As he put it himself, whether he made a dollar or a million, he was going to work.
