Dennis Rodman

Overview

Dennis Rodman is a 6'7", 210 lb. Forward from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. During his NBA career, he played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks. His nickname is the "Worm." He is ranked fifth in career offensive rebounds.
 
Rodman was born in Trenton, New Jersey and grew up in Oak Cliff, a section of Dallas, Texas. Following a growth spurt after high school Rodman enrolled at Cooke County College in Gainesville, Texas. He flunked out due to poor academic performance. So he transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he led the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) in rebounding for two seasons.  
 
He was the 27th pick overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. During his rookie season the Pistons made the playoffs and beat the Washington Bullets and Atlanta Hawks, but lost to the Boston Celtics in 7 games. The following season the Pistons made the playoffs again, this time advancing to the NBA Finals, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games after they had a 3-2 series lead. After the 1988-89 season the PIstons made the 1989 playoffs and advanced to the NBA Finals and beat the Los Angeles Lakers in a series sweep. Dennis won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for his 1989-90 season. Detroit would go on to win their second championship, this time defeating the Portland TrailBlazers in five games. Rodman finally was named a starter for the 1990-91 season, and he helped lead the team to the playoffs where they would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and lose to the Chicago Bulls. The following season he would post his career-high in rebounds per game with 18.7. The Pistons again made the playoffs but lost to the New York Knicks in the first round. The Pistons did not make the 1992-93 season's playoffs. Rodman demanded a trade and was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs on October 1, 1993. During the 1993-94 season Rodman averaged 17.3 rebounds per game. 
 
He started showing a more "Bad-as-I-Wanna-Be" side, refusing to leave a game after he was ejected, and caught headbutting two NBA players. That season he started dying his hair, and over his career his hair would be many colors such as blue, blonde, rainbow, red, and green. In 1994 the Spurs would make the playoffs but lose in the first round to the Utah Jazz. After missing about half of the 1994-95 season due to suspensions for clashing with the front office and an injury in a motorcycle accident, Rodman would still qualify for the rebounding title after only playing in 49 games. He won his fourth straight rebounding title with 16.8 rebounds per game and helped lead the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals, but they lost to the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets. On October 2, 1995 Rodman was traded to the Chicago Bulls. Rodman would gain notoriety in the 1995-96 season for headbutting a referee. In his first season with the Bulls Rodman would help lead the team to 72 wins during the 82-game regular season. Along with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen the Bulls would win the championship against the Seattle SuperSonics in six games. During the 1996-97 season Rodman averaged 16.1 rebounds per game. During an NBA game he tripped over a cameraman, and then Rodman kicked him in the groin. He was suspended without pay for 11 games by the NBA. During the playoffs of that year the Bulls would win another championship, this time in six games over the Utah Jazz. The next year the Bulls faced the Jazz in the NBA Finals again and won in six games. This was Rodman's fifth championship. During the off season he had a highly-publicized romance with pop-star Madonna, wore a wedding dress to promote his book (Bad as I Wanna Be), and had a ten-day marriage with Carmen Electra. Another outside-basketball activity for Rodman was professional wrestling, where he has wrestled alongside the NBA's Karl Malone and Hulk Hogan. On January 21, 1999 Rodman was released by Chicago, and he signed as a free-agent with the Lakers. He was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers on April 16, 1999. On February 3, 2000 he signed with the Dallas Mavericks, but was waived on March 8.  

He later tried to get back in the NBA by playing in the American Basketball Association but never was called-up. He has also played in the United Kingdom and the Philippines. He has appeared in various reality TV shows and in a few movies. He is among the NBA's all-time leaders in rebounds and rebounds per game, a two time NBA All-Star, a two time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, a five time NBA Champion, a selection for the NBA's Defensive First-Team seven times, and has won the rebounding title seven times. He is one of the greats of basketball, and one of the most interesting and weirdest players to ever put on an NBA uniform.