“That’s How You Make $20,000,000 a Year..But Dennis”: From Being Homeless & Going to Prison, Dennis Rodman Uniquely Paved His NBA Path, Claimed Bulls Teammate

The NBA today is a inclined towards the offensive side of the floor. Scoring sensations are rewarded with ludicrous contracts on the daily. However, in the Michael Jordan era, things were a lot different. Back then basketball was played according to the positions, unlike the modern eras positionless game. Likewise, not everyone had the job to put points on the board. Some came in as defensive specialists. A classic example is none other than five time champion, Dennis Rodman. According to his ex-teammate, Scott Burrell, the Worm shot up as a Hall of Famer by being a great stopper.

Before making it to the NBA, Rodman was a troubled child. Growing up in a poor household, he went through his fair share of hardships. Notably, the five time champion was cut from his high school team several times. In addition, according to the Chicago Tribune, there was a time he spent a night in prison for stealing watches.

However, after a blessing growth spurt, Rodman was able to find his calling on the court. Growing to 6’7″, he transformed himself into a rebounding machine. His former teammate Burrell explained what it was like playing alongside him and the energy he brought to the table.

Dennis Rodman became a Hall of Famer without knowing how to score

In an interview with Hoops Hype in 2020, Burrell spoke about the harsh treatment he took from Michael Jordan and his time on the iconic Chicago Bulls team. Likewise, the interviewer couldn’t go through without asking about the Worm. Rodman was arguably one of the most unique personalities to play the game. However, Burrell had nothing but immense praise for the two-time Defensive Player of The Year.

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Burrell said, “And he dominated the game without even trying to score, which is amazing. In this day and age, scoring is everything. That’s how you get $20 million a year if you make a couple jump shots. But Dennis dominated the game playing great defense. He was a great passer, knew when to score and when not to score.”

Playing 899 games in his NBA career, Rodman scored 0 points a whopping 61 times in his career. However, each time he didn’t score, his contributions on the glass and as a relentless defender were critical. He was often the star who stepped up to guard the best offensive player. In addition, he brought energy and charisma to the game that couldn’t be substituted. ‘

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Despite never being among the top scorers, the Worm knew the formula to win. Each night he would play hard and ruthless defense while dominating the rebounds. His offensive boards helped his teams disrupt several defenses after a miss. However, it was his undeterred will to win which made him a Hall of Famer.