Once Slapped with “Flopper” Tag by Michael Jordan, 5x NBA Champion Felt Overshadowed by Bulls Legend’s Biggest Rival

Michael Jordan wasn’t always ecstatic about a teammate he’d go on to win a three-peat with. He preferred someone from the biggest rivals the Bulls had at that time. On the other hand, the transferred player was the envy of Jordan’s former teammate.

After retiring from the NBA, the two-time All-Star would narrate his innermost feelings through his 2006 book, I Should Be Dead By Now. The book detailed all the off-court shenanigans from the perspective of the most flamboyant personality in NBA history. One excerpt was from before he joined the Bulls dynasty.

Dennis Rodman found what he craved for with the Spurs

Dennis Rodman had a long way to stardom with the Chicago Bulls. But his flamboyance had already attracted attention. He entered the NBA in 1986 and came to the Bulls a decade later. He’d win his five championship rings with two different franchises. The stardom eluded him until he joined the San Antonio Spurs. It would make him a household name that rivaled Michael Jordan.

The Detroit Pistons selected Dennis Rodman in the 1986 draft. In the seven years he spent with the franchise, ‘The Worm’ won the 1989 and 1990 titles. The following year, he’d lose to future teammates from the Chicago Bulls. But despite being part of the ‘Bad Boy Pistons’, Rodman didn’t shine in the spotlight as much as he wanted.

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He’d speak of his feelings during that era in his book, I Should Be Dead By Now. And he didn’t hold back the envy he felt for his teammates.

“While I was a bit of celebrity in Detroit, I was never the star on-court or of-court. ‘Isiah Thomas’ was the name above the title. And I didn’t even get top billing as the baddest of the bad boys. That honor went to center Bill ‘you-best-have-major-med-ical’ Laimbeer.”

Rodman shared the 1989-90 glory with Bill Laimbeer, Joe Dumars, James Edwards, John Salley, and Vinnie Johnson on the roster. Isiah Thomas led the team with 18.4 points that season. And as Rodman put it, Laimbeer made even Scottie Pippen double-question if scoring was worth getting on the injury list. Rodman, with 8.8 points that season and the Defensive Player of the Year, couldn’t outshine his teammates.

In 1993, the Pistons traded him to the Spurs, and that’s where Rodman was noticed. “In San Antonio, my ever-changing hair color attracted a ton of attention from the public and the NBA, and I would end up center stage.”

In the two seasons, he’d share that limelight alongside David Robinson. However, the team didn’t like him very much. His time at the Spurs was marred with injuries and conflicts with management. The conflict would escalate till he was traded to the Chicago Bulls.

Rodman as Michael Jordan’s teammate

According to the NBA star in the same book, “he was the second most famous player in the NBA, right behind a guy named Michael Jordan.” That may have to do with his drama with the Spurs but he claimed he had a lot of public engagements at that time.

His arrival in Chi-Town was just as dramatic. He was recruited to replace Horace Grant. And Bulls nation questioned if the volatile Rodman was a reliable addition to the team. Insiders claim that Jordan wasn’t on board with the new signee. Jordan called Rodman a “flopper” who didn’t have “good defense.” He preferred Rodman’s Pistons teammate, Joe Dumars.

That must’ve been a low blow for ‘The Worm’. But he didn’t let this bring him down. He’d go on to become a part of the three-peat from 1996 to 1998. It’s debatable if he surpassed Jordan in fame, but he is undoubtedly famous both on and off-court.

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