Dennis Rodman and his achievements in basketball are undeniable. The NBA legend might not have been the media?s favorite during his playing days, but he sure was a force to deal with on-court. His flamboyant lifestyle attracted a lot of eyes during the later stages of his career. But back in his teenage years, Rodman had a very shy personality. Rodman’s college coach Lonn Reisman once talked about a young Dennis Rodman and the connection he had with him.
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In an interview a while back, Reisman described how difficult it was to sign the youngster. His continuous efforts made Rodman the legend he is today.
The persistence of Dennis Rodman’s first coach
Dennis Rodman was a star player in everyone’s eyes. Lonn Reisman, Rodman’s first recruiter, remembered giving up on the first sight of The Worm. Rodman was so talented that Reisman didn’t back himself up to sign him, as he was a young recruiter himself.
But he later decided to not give up on the youngster. In a New York Times interview in 2020, Reisman described how he worked day and night to get a hold of Rodman’s phone number. The school refused to give away Rodman’s phone no. with concerns about privacy issues. After a prolonged effort by the young recruiter, he finally got a hold of the young phenom.
Upon arriving at his place, Reisman was surprised to see the youngster lock himself up inside the room. But when he refused to leave the place, Rodman finally decided to open up.
“He opened the door, and I don’t know what it was, but we just had an instant connection” said Reisman.?
The young recruiter is now 65 years old and at an honorable post as the VP of intercollegiate athletics at Tarleton State. He himself recognizes the hard work that he put in to get Rodman out of his shell. He mentioned how persistence is the “No. 1″ thing needed.
Rodman didn’t let his hard work go to waste, as he won five NBA titles in his career. The NBA troubled Rodman at times but also opened up his larger-than-life personality. His stint at the Chicago Bulls made him part of probably one of the best teams in the NBA.
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Dennis Rodman at the Chicago Bulls
The Worm and his stint at Chicago Bulls are etched into NBA folklore. The legendary defender went on to win three consecutive NBA championships, thanks to his trade from the San Antonio Spurs.
Watch This Story: “I’m going to lose everything please please help me” 5x NBA Champion Dennis Rodman was left distraught after running into an old friend in 2003
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Rodman won a ring for each of the three years he stayed in Chicago. And Reisman played a crucial role in kickstarting that illustrious career.