“I Didn’t Make the Money..That’s His Money.”: Father Philander, Who Was Accused by Dennis Rodman for Making Money off His Name, Once Got Honest about Their Tough Relationship

Fans might know former NBA player Dennis Rodman as one of the best players in the league’s history. Rodman was drafted in 1986, by the Detroit Pistons before he went to play for the Piston’s rival team, the Chicago Bulls in 1995. One might say, Rodman had quite an interesting life, both on the court and outside of it. The five-time NBA champion has earned several accolades throughout his career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Similarly, Rodman had just as interesting a life off the court as well. From taking sudden short vacations in between games to being friends with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un. Dennis had done it all. However, the Worm did not have the best childhood. In fact, he did not have both parents with him while growing up as his father had abandoned both him and his mother when he was just six years old. Nevertheless, the father and son had a reunion several decades later, but maybe not in the way Rodman had expected.

Dennis Rodman and Philander Rodman Jr’s sour relationship

Dennis Rodman’s father, Philander Rodman Jr. was an aviator and a Vietnam War veteran. He left his wife and and three children behind in America and traveled overseas. As it turns out, he went to Philippines, opened a bar that is now a restaurant, married two Filipino women and fathered 29 kids with 16 different women. According to Rodman’s father, he had tried several times to meet his celebrity son but had received no response from the Chicago Bulls legend.

In an interview with AP, Philander spoke fondly of his NBA star son and said he was proud of him. He expressed his wish to meet him. Philander got that wish in 2012, when they met for the first time in 42 years. But the meeting only lasted for few minutes as Rodman had a busy schedule.

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According to some reports, Philander had tried making money off his son and succeeded few times. He reportedly asked $10,000 for interviews and wouldn’t talk to people without his manager. Furthermore, he started getting invitations to several events and offers for exclusive book rights. Philander even went on to write a book on Rodman.

This had affected Rodman emotionally. Rodman tearfully said even though his father made a lot of money off of him, he never went to greet him. According to a report bt Washington Post, Philander said that he never planned on asking anything from Rodman. He also stated he was just proud that the NBA legend was his son. Furthermore, he added that he understood why his son would hate him as he had gone through the same with his father.

“I don’t ever plan to ask him for anything, I didn’t make the money — that’s his money. I just like to look at {him} and say, That’s my son.’ ” said Philander.

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Unfortunately, Rodman’s father passed away in 2020 after battling prostate cancer for a long time.