Dennis Rodman
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Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13, 1961 in Trenton, New Jersey) was a professional basketball player mostly known for his controversial antics on and off the court and as a top defender and rebounder.
When he entered the NBA in 1986, he was listed as 6' 8" (2.03 m), although he was actually 6' 6" (1.98 m). Rodman played one of the most physical positions in basketball at power forward, and despite giving up as much as a half foot in some matchups, was considered perhaps the top power defender of his generation, and one of the top five defenders of his generation at all positions along with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Gary Payton and Dikembe Mutombo.
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Pre-NBA
Rodman, who grew up in Dallas, Texas, was far from a basketball prospect as a high-schooler; he only became a prospect when he grew 11 inches (27 cm) in one year late in his teenage years. After a stint in junior college, he played for Southeastern Oklahoma State University, an NAIA school. There, he was a good scorer as well as a good rebounder.
NBA career
However, the Detroit Pistons took sufficient notice of him to select him in the second round of the 1986 NBA Draft. At that time, the Pistons were an up-and-coming team led by Isiah Thomas at point guard, Joe Dumars at shooting guard, and Bill Laimbeer at center. They had notable role players in Adrian Dantley, Vinnie Johnson, John Salley, and Rick Mahorn. Rodman's intensity was a perfect fit for a team known for its rough style of play and tenacious defense. The Pistons were knocked out of the playoffs in 1987 by their nemesis Boston Celtics, although Rodman did a decent job of guarding their star player, Larry Bird.
In 1988 Rodman seemed to show even more star potential, crashing the boards more and defending better than before. In 1989 he was finally recognized for his work by being named Defensive Player of the Year, the first of two straight. He finished second to Laimbeer in rebounding on the team, and helped the Pistons put away the young Chicago Bulls for the second straight year as they won their first NBA championship. The following year was almost identical, with the Pistons beating the Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals again, winning their second straight championship, and Rodman again winning Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Pistons also posted a franchise-high 63 wins during the regular season.
In 1991 the Pistons were jolted when they were swept by the Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals. Rodman led the team in rebounding, but it wasn't enough. Rodman would have to raise his level of play, and he did.
In 1992, Rodman was phenomenal, averaging over 18 rebounds a game as he won the first of seven straight rebounding titles. Rodman didn't overpower or outreach opponents. Instead, he used an almost scientific approach to calculate how the ball would ricochet off the basket to be in prime position to grab it. 1993 was Rodman's second top rebounding season, but his last with the Pistons. In the offseason he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for Sean Elliott.
In San Antonio, Rodman continued his glass-cleaning expertise, and allowed center David Robinson to focus more on scoring, as Robinson won the scoring title. It marked the first time that teammates won both the scoring and rebounding title, but it wouldn't be the last for Rodman. The following season, Rodman helped San Antonio to their best season in franchise history with 62 wins, and they made it to the Western Conference finals.
In San Antonio, Rodman's famous "wild side" really came out. His off-court life, including a brief but heavily-publicized relationship with Madonna, and on-court anticts, such as dying his hair, proved too much for the Spurs. The last straw was when he failed to arrive with the rest of the team for the critical fifth game of the conference finals. Rodman's last straw may have arrived before this point. He was found sitting in his pickup truck with a loaded shotgun one night in the Spur's parking lot. Rodman claimed in one of his two autobiographies that that night was when he killed the old Dennis and let the new Dennis emerge.
In the offseason, Rodman was dealt to the Chicago Bulls for center Will Perdue in order to fill a large hole at power forward left by Horace Grant. The Bulls, with Rodman and the return from retirement of Michael Jordan, improved 25 games, from 47 to a NBA record 72 victories. Later, in the playoffs, the Bulls easily made their way to the NBA Finals and the NBA championship. Rodman, Jordan and Scottie Pippen all made the All-Defensive First Team, the first time three players from the same team made it on the first team. Rodman led the league in rebounding for the fifth straight year, and Jordan won the scoring title, the second time that teammates had led the league in scoring and rebounding. They would repeat in '97 and '98 as the team three-peated for the second time in the decade.
Rodman left Chicago after the season as the Bulls started a massive rebuilding phase. He also finished his last major season, as he would only have brief stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Rodman was the premier rebounder of the nineties with seven straight titles, and matched up defensively with players ranging from Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird to Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Kemp, Karl Malone, and Charles Barkley. His most impressive feat was during the '96 Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic, when the 6 ft 6 in, 210 pound (95 kg) Rodman shut down the 6 ft 10 in, 235 pound (107 kg) Horace Grant and helped contain the 7 ft 1 in, 330 pound (150 kg) O'Neal, key to the Bulls' eventual sweep of the defending Eastern Conference champs.
Professional wrestling
- Rodman wrestled a few matches for World Championship Wrestling and was a member of the nWo with Hollywood "Hulk" Hogan. His first match was at Bash At the Beach '97 on July 13, 1997. He teamed with Hogan and lost to Lex Luger and The Giant. At Bash At the Beach '98 on July 12, 1998, Rodman & Hogan defeated Karl Malone & Diamond Dallas Page. His 3rd and last match was on August 14, 1999 at Road Wild when he lost to Randy Savage.
Trivia
Rodman is known for his controversial behaviour, such as advocating for anti-fur activists PETA. He was also briefly married to Carmen Electra, and famously wore a wedding dress at a public appearance to promote his autobiography As Bad as I Wanna Be.