Dennis Rodman?s Father Philander, Who Abandoned Him at Age 3, Lived a Similar Prison-Bound Life After American Military Theft

NBA legend Dennis Rodman is infamous for his antics on and off the basketball court. He has been the talking point of the NBA for many years because of his controversial actions and eccentric lifestyle. Rodman’s antics did not sit well with some of his teammates during his playing days and with the management of the franchises he played for. Rodman came to prominence with the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons. It is safe to say that the five-time NBA champion continued being a “Bad Boy” even after leaving the Pistons. However, he might not still have a reputation as bad as his father, Philander Rodman Jr.

The Chicago Bulls legend came from very humble beginnings raised by a single mother. His father Philander Rodman abandoned the family when Dennis was just 3 years old.

Philander Rodman Jr. on his life

Philander Rodman Jr. once gave an interesting interview to The Washington Post in 1996. He had left the U.S. and settled in the Philippines at the time. According to the report, Philander has been in prison several times and was also accused of stealing military equipment during his time with the U.S. Air Force. The report stated, “He says he’s been in and out of jail, and left the U.S. Air Force under a cloud when he was accused of stealing military equipment.”

However, the report also noted that Philander said the Air Force could not prove he stole the equipment. Despite this, he quit the Air Force anyway after serving for 17 years. At the time, Philander was running a bar in Angeles City, Pampanga. Given the basketball fandom in the Philippines, Philander became a local hero because of the success of Dennis Rodman.

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“They think Dennis is bad,” Rodman said of his son. “They ain’t been around me. . . . They ain’t seen nothin’. I’m the bad one.” After divorcing Dennis’ mother, Shirley, in 1970, Philander married another woman he was dating a week later. He then divorced the woman in 1977. According to the report, he had two wives and 27 children in the Philippines.

Dennis Rodman met his father

During the interview, Philander Rodman Jr. noted that he tried to reach out to his son by sending out faxes and letters. He added that he was not looking for any financial help from Dennis Rodman and said that he just wanted to meet him.

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Dennis and his father did meet. Once during an NBA game and then in 2012, after his retirement. Philander passed away on July 14, 2020, when he was 79.