As Dennis Rodman Breaks Year Long Hiatus, Dramatic Tale Of Ditching Michael Jordan For Hulk Hogan Re-Appears

The 1990’s were wild. Despite being on one of the most competitive NBA teams in the history of the NBA, basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman was able to skip NBA Finals practice once. The Chicago Bulls were facing off against the intimidating Utah Jazz players in the 1997-1998 title run, their fifth NBA title run with Michael Jordan. However, Dennis Rodman actually skipped team practice before the Game 4 of the NBA Finals, ditching Michael Jordan!

In an interview back then, the basketball Hall of Famer discussed his decision to skip practice.

Why did the NBA legend skip NBA Finals practice?

In the famous 10-episode docuseries Last Dance, which released on Netflix in 2020, we get to take a closer look at why and how Dennis Rodman skipped NBA finals practice post Game 3 of the series. Last Dance covered the iconic championship runs that the Chicago Bulls went on from 1991 onwards. It also showed the lives of the different players on the legendary Chicago Bulls team.

Despite playing in what most NBA fans deem to be the most physical era to have existed in the NBA, Dennis Rodman made getting rebounds over towering centers look easy. He’s considered to be one of the greatest rebounders the NBA has ever seen. Many NBA veterans even consider him to be a basketball ‘genius’ in his own unique way.

Dennis Rodman’s antics were the highlight of the docuseries. Post a dominating Game 3 win against the Utah Jazz, Dennis Rodman snuck out through the back of the building to avoid 300 media members. But why?

When the 59-year-old Hall of Famer was asked this in Last Dance, Dennis Rodman gave the most ‘Rodman’ answer: “I wasn’t trying to do anything,” Rodman said in the episode. “I was just trying to play basketball, party, da, da, da, da. Fu– all the girls. Just be me. Dennis s–t, you know.”

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Carmen Electra, Rodman’s ex-wife, added: “He took a detour from playing with the Bulls to become a wrestler with Hulk Hogan,” as the former NBA star was keen on making an appearance with Hulk Hogan in a World Championship Wrestling event.

Was Dennis Rodman a liability for the iconic Chicago Bulls?

Despite playing in what most NBA fans deem to be the most physical era to have existed in the NBA, Dennis Rodman made getting rebounds over towering centers look easy. He’s considered to be one of the greatest rebounders the NBA has ever seen. Many NBA veterans even consider him to be a basketball ‘genius’ in his own unique way.

Rodman’s off-court antics never effected his on-court performances. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year won five NBA championships, including three straight with the Bulls from 1995 to ’98. During the 1998 Finals in question against the Utah Jazz, Dennis Rodman contributed to a whopping team-high of 50 rebounds across six games.

Dennis Rodman’s antics always have been entertaining to watch for NBA fans and players. His infamous 48-hour holiday in Las Vegas during the 1997-1998 regular season was also shown in the docuseries. Dennis Rodman was a menace on and off the court. He did not care what the world thought of him, he just was himself throughout his whole life.

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What are your thoughts on Rodman’s WCW stint? Did you like Dennis Rodman when he played for the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan? Let us know in the comments below!