Dennis Rodman has never been one to shy away from controversial opinions, and the Hall of Famer added another eye-catching take during Fanatics Fest in New York.
Speaking about a hypothetical matchup against today’s NBA stars, the five-time NBA champion said that LeBron James would be the easiest player he ever had to defend.
“LeBron is probably the easiest guy I’ve ever guarded in my life. He’s the easiest guy I could guard. The only thing he has on me is his size. He’s 6’10”, I’m 6’6″, but that don’t mean anything. I’ll make him go left all day long. I’ll make him shoot that damn jump shot, which ain’t worth a sh*t.”
The comments went viral across social media, sparking a massive debate: how stars from different eras would fare against one another. Rodman has never actually faced LeBron in the NBA, as he had retired before LeBron came into the league in 2003, making this entire comparison hypothetical.
Still, Rodman’s confidence is not without reason. Widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in NBA history, he won two Defensive Player of the Year awards and five NBA titles, as he built a reputation for frustrating some of the league’s biggest superstars. Despite standing at just 6-foot-6, Rodman battled much larger players using elite footwork, anticipation, energy, and physicality to neutralize opponents in the post.
Rodman’s plan against LeBron was pretty simple. Rather than letting James attack downhill, Rodman thinks he could force the four-time MVP into taking jump shots, which he believes is the weakest part of his game.
But the job is easier said than done.
LeBron has spent over two decades adapting his game to every defensive scheme possible. Whether facing lockdown defenders, double teams, or physical defenses, he has always found a way to score, averaging 27.1 points per game for his career while becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Rodman did admit these comments weren’t personal. After mocking LeBron’s game, he praised his accomplishments.
“But I love LeBron. LeBron has done great things in this world.”
That respect has existed despite Rodman’s past criticism of the modern NBA and of LeBron as well. Over the years, he has claimed today’s NBA is less physical than the era he played in and has doubted current stars would thrive under 1990s defensive rules.
Whether Rodman is right or not, it will never be known. Comparisons across eras are one of sports’ most entertaining debates, as there is no true answer. Rodman has proven to be one of the greatest defenders ever, but LeBron has shown that he is capable of figuring out any defensive challenge he has in front of him.
The matchup itself may never happen, but Rodman’s latest comments have once again fueled one of basketball’s most fascinating “what if” discussions.
