NBA legend and Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman was caught off guard at a recent fan meet when a young fan made a hilarious comment. As Rodman was signing the fan’s shirt, the fan said:
“I wanna be like just like you when I grow up.”
The comment stumped Rodman, as the legend couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Oh boy. That’s a lot right there,” said the forward as he finished signing the jersey.
Dennis Rodman had an impressive NBA career. However, he was far from being a model example for the youth.
Rodman lived life king-size. As one of the most controversial athletes of his era, the forward constantly found himself under the media spotlight for some of the outrageous things he would do, on and off the court.
The former Bulls forward had several famous stories linked to his name. Some of his antics involve disappearing from practice for days on end, while others involve eccentric acts such as marrying himself.
To say that Rodman lived a wild, rollercoaster of a life is an understatement. His life off the court is an example of this, as he dated and married Carmen Electra (albeit briefly). He became friends with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un later on in life, something his teammate Michael Jordan didn’t wish to be a part of. He even claims to have had relations with pop sensation Madonna at one point in his career.
Barring the controversial state of his life off the court, Dennis Rodman was as fierce a competitor as any, and one of the most vital pieces of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty.
While the Bulls were headlined by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Rodman was the ultimate role player. Snatching rebounds and winning second chances back for his team, the forward was a menace on the floor, and the entire league was aware of it.
Rodman wasn’t much of an offensive threat. However, his physical attributes made him a savant on the defensive side of the ball. Widely regarded as one of the best defenders the game has ever seen, the 5x NBA champion earned eight All-Defensive team selections, two All-Star team selections, and was named the DPOY twice in his career.
Rodman’s career averages are nothing short of mind-boggling. Although he only averaged 7.3 points per game, he recorded an incredible average of 13.1 rebounds per game. With seven rebounding titles to his name, he was truly the definition of “knowing your role”.
Rodman eventually retired from the NBA in 2000. After a stellar career, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame and was even named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
