Dennis Rodman’s personality had more colors than the NBA and media could handle back in his era. And his unpredictable, unapologetic, and unforgettable attitude didn’t do him any favors, either. No wonder he felt misunderstood by a league that couldn’t see beyond his antics. So much so that even today, he believes that no one should possess traits like him and suffer what he did at the hands of those who could never process his personality.

The prime example of this occurred during Rodman’s recent interaction with a young fan. The kid, while getting his Dennis Rodman poster signed by the Chicago Bulls legends, stated he wants to be just like The Worm when he grows up. Rodman’s response? A laugh and a reality check. “Oh boy [laugh] That’s a lot right there, man,” he said.

And you can’t blame him for that reaction. Because let’s be real—Rodman wasn’t exactly the NBA’s golden child. Sure, he was a defensive menace and one of the greatest rebounders the league has ever seen, but his reputation? That was a whole different story.

From his ever-changing hair colors to his spontaneous mid-season Vegas getaways, Rodman lived life on his terms. The problem? The NBA wasn’t exactly in the mood to celebrate his chaos. Take March 16, 1996, for example. Bulls vs. Nets. Emotions running high. And then—bam! Rodman h——— referee Ted Bernhardt.

Subsequently, the league suspended Rodman for six games without pay and fined him $20,000. And if you think the media had his back, think again. Many thought the punishment was too soft. But Rodman? He saw things differently.

“They’re making me a marked man where any little thing I do is a problem,” he said. “And tomorrow people are going to say, ‘Oh, he’s done it again, he’s at it again, what is wrong with that Psycho?’ They don’t understand, though, I’m not crazy. I know exactly what’s going on.”

No wonder that night, after getting ejected, Dennis Rodman didn’t just leave the court—he put on a full show. He ripped off his jersey, knocked over a water cooler, and stormed off in a way only he could. The Worm has always been a love-him-or-hate-him kind of guy. But looking back, you have to wonder—was the NBA punishing him for what he did, or for who he was?

To further prove his point, The Worm once used a former Phoenix Suns legend as an example in his defense.

Dennis Rodman’s claim against Charles Barkley, highlighting NBA’s bias

Dennis Rodman was a product of the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” era, so it’s not a shocker that his wild antics got under the skin of opponents. But while fans loved his energy, The Worm felt the league had it out for him. He wasn’t just known for his relentless rebounding—he was also infamous for his trash talk and aggressive play, something that often landed him in hot water with officials.

The 5x NBA champ, however, believed there was a double standard. He called out Charles Barkley, saying, “Charles Barkley does more trash-talking than I do in this league. And he gets less punishment. I’m the black cat, the black sheep in this business.”

Looking at the numbers, he may have had a point. During the 1995-96 season, both players racked up 29 technicals. The next year, Rodman had 25 while Barkley had 22. Having faced all of this, it’s no surprise that Dennis Rodman believes that being different comes with a price. And he would not want a young fan to pay this price.