Dennis Rodman has never been shy about discussing the unconventional lifestyle that made him one of the NBA’s most fascinating personalities. Now, the Hall of Famer has shared yet another crazy story from his time with the Chicago Bulls, revealing that he missed a game during the 72-win season after an all-night trip to Atlantic City.
Speaking on the Above The Rim podcast, Rodman said he spent a night partying until 5 a.m., which made him completely miss a Bulls game.
“I had such a goddamn good time. I was at a strip club in New York, and then I loved the strip club. Then I went to a strip club in Atlantic City. I went to Atlantic City. I hit the strip club. I was with her, and then I had her a** come on to play some f***ing dice. Then I sat down and started playing dice all f***ing night.”
“Next thing you know, I forgot what time it was. I said, ‘Oh s**t, I got a game.’ It’s five o’clock. We got there. It’s 5 a.m. in the goddamn morning. I missed the f***ing game. Having a really good time. Having a real good time.”
“They got so used to me doing stuff like that. They said, ‘Don’t worry about it. We’ll just fly you on a private plane back to Chicago.’ No, they got so used to me doing stuff like that.”
This story captures Rodman’s unique place in NBA history.
During the 1995-96 season, while the Bulls were putting together one of the greatest campaigns ever, Rodman became one of the league’s biggest celebrities off the court. Even with his wild lifestyle, he consistently delivered on the court.
The Bulls finished the season with a 72-10 record before taking down the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA Finals to capture the franchise’s fourth championship. Rodman played a vital role on that historic team, as he led the NBA in rebounding for the fifth consecutive season and was part of an elite defensive unit alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Rodman averaged 5.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 48.0% from the field, along with being named to the All-Defensive First Team.
His value to the Bulls often outweighed the headaches that came with managing his personality. Head coach Phil Jackson and the franchise were known to give Rodman a little more freedom than most players, as they thought this approach would help him perform at his best on the court.
This latest story only adds another chapter to the numerous tales that have defined his Hall of Fame career. From instant vacations during the NBA Finals to professional wrestling appearances and off-court adventures, there have been few professional athletes who have had a career like The Worm.
Even decades after retiring, Rodman has continued to make headlines with wild statements and crazy stories about his past.
In the same Above The Rim podcast, Rodman said that if social media had existed during his peak in the 1990s, he would have been a billionaire. His larger-than-life personality would have easily made him one of the world’s biggest online stars.
He also recently started a debate at Fanatics Fest, as Rodman claimed LeBron James would have been the easiest guy he ever had to guard, saying he would simply force the NBA’s all-time leading scorer left and turn him into a jump shooter.
Whether telling wild stories from his Bulls days or talking about today’s NBA, Rodman continues to show that only a few figures in basketball lore can match his combination of confidence, honesty, and entertainment.
