Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman is arguably the best rebounder the game has seen. He was not an offensive juggernaut, but it was his rebounding skills that helped his team win games. Rodman was relentless on the boards. But that wasn?t the only thing that Rodman had made a name for himself in.

Rodman was a menace on the defensive side of the floor as well. And that is how he got the nickname, The Worm. He was an absolute beast on defense. The Bulls’ head coach Phil Jackson saw what Rodman brought to the table.

Dennis Rodman was more than a rebounding machine

Phil Jackson would often assign Rodman to the toughest player to guard on the other team. Rodman had the ability to shut players down for the entire game. The Bulls legend was an undersized power forward. He didn?t have strength on his side either.

But it was his relentless energy that ended up helping him get in the other player?s head. And which would in turn cause them to make mistakes. Rodman used to remain unfazed. There was rarely a time when he would go cold for the game.

In 2021, Dennis Rodman sat down in the Wilmington Public Library to appear on the show ?Straight Talk.? He spoke about a lot of things, ranging from his childhood to his NBA career and so on.

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While sitting down with the panel, one of the panelists asked him which player out of Shaquille O?Neal, Karl Malone, and Alonzo Mourning was the toughest to guard. And Rodman?s answers were quite on point.

Rodman said, ?Shaq had a problem with me. Because you know I?m the only guy who could hold him down, you know, three or four points, five points stuff like that.? That was his response to facing Shaquille O?Neal.

When it came to Alonzo Mourning, Rodman had this to say, ?Alonzo Mourning literally, literally, passionately just hated me because you know because I just get in his head all the time you know, stuff like that. He?s stronger and stuff like that but you know, I didn?t worry about that.?

The toughest player who Rodman had to guard

And lastly, he spoke about defending Utah Jazz legend, Karl Malone. Rodman said, ?Karl Malone, you know I love Karl Malone. He used to date my sister.??

?Karl Malone was great man, you know, I love letting against him. He was tough as hell though but yeah, just Karl Malone I can call one out of all three of those guys the toughest,? he added.

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Looks like now we know who the toughest player for Rodman to guard was. Karl Malone was a beast inside the paint. Not only did he have strength on his side, but he was also a skilled post-player as well. No wonder he gave Rodman the toughest time.