Never one to play by the rulebook, Dennis Rodman was synonymous with controversy for most of his career. An anomaly both on and off the court, the 6'7" forward is recognized as one of the greatest defenders and rebounders in NBA history, while at the same time is considered the biggest character the league has ever seen.
At a time when the league primarily rewarded scoring, the Southeastern Oklahoma State product not only took the less-traveled path but also made a mark for himself. Having said that, Rodman's life struggles and childhood traumas often made it difficult for him to manage his emotions, which is why he always needed a mentor-like figure by his side.
Hence, when Chuck Daly resigned as coach of the Detroit Pistons in 1992, Dennis began to spiral downwards.
Adding to his woes at the time was his divorce from Annie Bakes after six months of marriage. At his lowest, Rodman contemplated suicide, but a certain intervention helped him change his mind, as he decided to kill the imposter that didn't allow him to lead the life he always wanted.
After a tumultuous 1992-93 season with the Pistons, Rodman wanted out of Detroit and was consequently traded to the San Antonio Spurs . What followed was a version of The Worm that the sporting world wasn't ready for, starting with his Demolition Man-inspired bold mohawk look.
"It was crazy what he started doing to himself physically … It was a time when people didn't know what to do with weirdness in the sports world," mentioned Sports Illustrated Columnist Michael Silver during a recent episode of ESPN's 30 for 30 titled Rodman For Better or Worse.
Reflecting on his new identity, which involved him dying his hair and getting all sorts of tattoos and piercings, Rodman clarified, "I wasn't trying to be this individual trying to stand out. 'No,' it just happened."
The unexpected change in demeanor occurred as Rodman was transitioning into his role with the Spurs.
After a rather abrupt end to his seven-year tenure with the Pistons, Rodman was traded to the Spurs, where he would be paired with David Robinson in a move aimed to lessen the burden on The Admiral, especially on the defensive end. However, he seemed to have different plans.
Battling his inner demons, Rodman appeared to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, be it for his bizarre outfits and hairdos or his wild lifestyle, which included his highly publicized relationship with Pop sensation Madonna. Nonetheless, the two-time DPOY continued to do his bit on the hardwood, including leading the league in rebounds.
But things went too far in the 1994-95 season, with Rodman clashing with the front office, coaches and his teammates, paving the way for multiple suspensions. He never appeared to get along with Coach Bob Hill, defying him on several occasions and openly criticizing him.
The eccentric behavior and outlandish mannerisms had crossed all limits, ticking off the otherwise calm and highly professional Robinson, who once confronted Rodman, asking him why he had to be the Devil all the time? It reached a point where the Spurs had to get rid of The Worm for them to return to normalcy.
When the Bulls traded for Rodman ahead of the 1995-96 season, there were certainly apprehensions about his fit into the system, given his track record. That said, the legendary duo of Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson had a plan to get the best out of Dennis without disrupting the locker room dynamics.
As far as Rodman goes, playing for the Bulls made sense for him in 1995 .
"When you move from one city to another, you have to feel wanted … I felt wanted in Chicago from the beginning, from a basketball sense (because) they weren't interested in taming me or keeping me in line. That's the only feeling of comfort I needed," stated Rodman.
Cracking the code with Dennis helped the Bulls secure their second three-peat from 1996 to 1998. Thus, proving that dealing with The Worm was not everybody's cup of tea, something only great minds like Daly and Jackson could manage.
Related: "What did I do so bad?" - Dennis Rodman recalls facing backlash after North Korea visits
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
