Trendsetting on and off the court, an unpredictable defender, and a fierce rebounder. Is that Dennis Rodman or Angel Reese? From college to a 14-year career in the NBA, the most flamboyant personality in the NBA showed he’s as reliable on a team as unexpected he’s otherwise. Rodzilla was valuable in the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat and quite leaned into the villainous persona. Three decades since Chicago feels like they have the second coming of The Worm among them. But, over at Sky, granted Angel Reese is not doing the wacky hair colors, and she doesn’t just take off to stress her coach. Yet some people see they have very similar styles of play.

Reese both matched and broke Shaquille O’Neal‘s all-time rookie rebounds record and holds a double-double WNBA record. Clearly, she’s meeting the defensive rebound standards set by Rodman. It’s very early to say if the rookie is at that level but the parallels to the 5x NBA champ’s college and rookie seasons set the tone for Chi-Town Barbie’s career.

Dennis Rodman and Angel Reese’s early stardom

In high school, Rodman had not come into his talents or physique. He was more of a benchwarmer in basketball and football and nearly quit sports to focus on working. Then he had a sudden growth spurt to 6’7″ and returned to the court. He initially enrolled in North Central Texas College but failed to meet the academic requirements. He transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the NAIA where he emerged as a standout athlete.

Rodman led the NAIA in rebounding twice (1985, and 1986), averaging 25.7 points and 15.7 rebounds. He led his team to the NAIA semifinals too and recorded a 46-point, 32-rebound game. His school was ranked no.3 nationwide under the once benchwarmer. Three seasons in Oklahoma got Rodman noticed by the Detroit Pistons and set him on the NBA path.

More than three decades later since he played in college, there was some déjà vu when Angel Reese attended Maryland. Unlike Rodman, Reese stood out as a multi-sport athlete in high school and was a five-star recruit. In her debut, she grabbed a season-high 20 points and nine rebounds but a devastating injury sidelined her for the rest of the season. She returned as a starter the next season, and averaged 17.8 points and 10.6 rebounds, becoming the first player in the school to average a double-double since 1975.

She’d transfer to LSU in 2022 where she truly gained national fame. She broke Maree Jackson’s single-game rebounding record with 28 rebounds and had a 20-game double-double streak in 2023. She’s credited for winning LSU’s first NCAA championship. She’d continue a record-breaking spree into her senior year but only made it to the Elite Eight. However, Reese averaged 14.4 rebounds per game in two LSU seasons, the most in SEC history. That made her one of the most hyped players heading into the WNBA draft.

A contrasting start

Rodman and Reese’s draft experiences weren’t identical. Though the Pistons wanted him, he didn’t make a splash as the second-round, 27th overall pick. But, his rugged defensive style was a perfect mesh for Chuck Daly’s ‘Bad Boys.’

In contrast, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark were bringing the WNBA into its Magic Johnson-Larry Bird era. No WNBA draft class had been this hyped as before. Reese was an easy top 10 pick, selected seventh overall by Chicago Sky.

What they do have in common is they made an impression in their rookie seasons easily.

The Bad Boy vs. the Barbie

It’s easy to be distracted by Dennis Rodman’s quirks and forget that the guy had an elite basketball IQ. Daly utilized Rodman’s natural defensive prowess well. The Pistons comfortably made it to the 1987 playoffs where The Worm’s unpredictable persona showed through his clashes with the Boston Celtics.

There wasn’t a single game he didn’t show blood-boiling trash talk with a mental fortitude to back it. His off-the-cuff comments would induce rivals to target him and struggle. Daly spaced him out across 77 games in his freshman year when he averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Reese’s rookie season is not over but her impact on the Chicago Sky is as palpable as Rodman’s initial years with the Bulls. Something like rookie Rodman feuding with Celtics’ Dennis Johnson, Reese, and Clark’s feud was already at its peak within their first month in the league. She recorded 16 consecutive double-doubles in her first 22 career games, coming very close to Shaq’s all-time record, and picked up Rookie of the Month.

Now she’s recorded three consecutive 20+ rebound games, outdoing Shaq’s rookie record of two. But, records don’t make a Dennis Rodman. Notorious critic of WNBA rookies, Jason Whitlock, claims Reese is neither ROTY material nor a Dennis Rodman. However, Sky HC, Teresa Weatherspoon said that Angel is, “relentless just like [Dennis Rodman].” And Sky needs that to keep their playoff spot.

Both aren’t scorers, yet there are shades of Rodman in Shaq’s Prodigy. Reese gives off the tough vibes of the Bad Boy Pistons era where trash talk was as good as basketball currency. Like Rodman, she’s been dragged but she came out stronger each time. Like she said, “I’m a dog, you can’t teach that.” That attitude won Dennis Rodman five championships. S,o Reese’s future is looking good from this side.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.