5x NBA champion Dennis Rodman played for many teams throughout his Hall of Fame career. However, his departure from the San Antonio Spurs to the Chicago Bulls altered his legacy forever. However, despite being one of the best players in the league, Rodman plummeted to the bottom of the Chicago Bulls’ pecking order in the 1997-98 season. But the rebellious Rodman surprisingly had come to terms with this unfortunate outcome.
Dennis Rodman was an established superstar and one of the biggest names in the league before arriving in Chicago. Having won two championships with the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons and several rebounding titles, Rodman already had cemented his legacy among the greats. However, his stint with the Bulls exalted his all-time status. But despite his contributions in the late 90s, Rodman consistently ranked at the bottom of the Bulls hierarchy. The Worm addressed the issue in a 1998 interview. Moreover, he also compared his position to a Hollywood classic.
Dennis Rodman uses Al-Pacino’s character to describe his position with the Chicago Bulls
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At the height of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, Dennis Rodman sat down with host Bob Costas for an interview. In one of the segments, Costas brought up a harsh reality of Rodman’s role with the Chicago Bulls. The NBC host harped on how when people talk about the ‘break-up’ of the Chicago Bulls, Rodman always gets the short end of the stick.
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?According to popular belief, the then hierarchy of the Bulls went like this: Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and then Dennis Rodman. When asked how he felt about his current position in the pecking order, Rodman, out of character, explained he had come to terms with his role. Moreover, he also talked about how the fans view him when compared to Michael Jordan. Rodman said, “I am the opposite of Michael Jordan, he is good, and I am evil, but we seem to always to come in the middle for some reason, you know, Devil’s advocate. You ever see that movie?”?
In the popular movie ‘The Devil’s Advocate’, Al Pacino played the role of the Devil in the guise of the owner of a law firm. However, the context in which he used the analogy is uncertain. After Rodman’s woeful admission of fate, Costas had some uplifting words for the 5x NBA champion. The two delved further into the nuances of Rodman’s public persona.
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Watch the Story – Dennis Rodman’s omnipresent nudity inspired cast of the surreal life to do something bizarre
The Chicago Bulls were matched up against the Reggie Miller-led Indiana Pacers in the 1998 ECF. The stakes were at an all-time high in the supposed ‘Last Dance’ of the Chicago Bulls. In a grueling seven-game series, the Bulls came out on top and advanced to the NBA finals.
