Despite Playing Just 12 Games for the Mavericks, Dennis Rodman Taught Their Billionaire Owner a Valuable Lesson: ?Trait That Served Me Well?

NBA legend Dennis Rodman did not have the best of relationships with the front offices of the teams he had played in. He has had issues with the management of some of the teams he played for. It started when the Detroit Pistons won two straight titles and then lost to the Chicago Bulls. So the Pistons’ front office decided to make some changes. But Rodman felt “betrayed” because of their decisions and then became “rebellious.” He then played for the San Antonio Spurs where the management did not like his antics off the court.

He was soon traded to the Bulls where Phil Jackson was the head coach. Jackson knew how to handle Rodman and it worked wonders for the team. After winning three straight titles from 1996 to 1998, the Bulls‘ front office decided to rebuild. So the ‘Worm’ joined the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent. The Lakers were a good team with a superstar center in Shaquille O’Neal and a young Kobe Bryant.

READ MORE – ?He Was So Destructive to a Team Perspective?: Dennis Rodman Was Harshly Criticised by 10x All Star for His Time with Spurs in 2020

They knew the risks involved with the move, however, went ahead with the experiment. But it did not turn out well. After a few weeks, the Lakers did not want to handle his antics and waived him.

The friendship between Dennis Rodman and Mark Cuban

After the Lakers waived him, Dennis Rodman then joined the Dallas Mavericks in the 1999-2000 season when he was 38. He only played 12 games for the Mavs. However, he still averaged 14.3 rebounds per game. But his illustrious career came to an end. However, Rodman had a good relationship with the Mavs owner Mark Cuban. When Rodman first arrived in Dallas, Cuban even allowed him to live in his guest house. In the ?Dennis Rodman: For Better or Worse? documentary he talked about his friendship with the billionaire.

Meanwhile, Cuban once talked about what he learned from the Hall of Famer. ?I learned a lot about dealing with the media and PR from him. Everywhere he went there was media and he was always positive and connected with them. [It was] a trait that served me well,? Cuban said.

WATCH THIS STORY – Dennis Rodman disrespects NBA 75 jacket in Lebron James and Stephen Curry?s presence

Cuban also stated that the five-time champion was released because the team was looking to go in the route of building around youngsters. The Mavs were established in 1980 and were not a very successful team. After Cuban took over in 2000, they slowly became one of the best teams in the league and a mainstay in the playoffs.

The Mavs first reached the Finals in 2006 but lost to the Miami Heat. They then avenged the loss in 2011 as the Mavericks beat a star-studded Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, to win the NBA championship.