In an era of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman was bringing pop culture to the NBA court with his vibrant hairdo and antics. The famous rebounder had the most dramatic career and personal life. Dennis almost got killed twice in bungee jumping and flew off a motorcycle. The media labeled him an outcast. But Dennis credits the compulsive coverage for his free character change.

In his autobiography, “Bad as I Wanna Be”, Rodman opens up about his internal battles and how he overcame them without destroying his inner peace.

It’s always me versus me, says Rodman

1993 was the year of enlightenment for Dennis Rodman. It was the last year for him at Spurs and his first in Chicago Bulls. During this period, Dennis transformed himself into a beautiful human being. He was unafraid, free, and tranquil. The media often criticized him as an outlaw. The bad press surprisingly made a positive impact on him.

Dennis praised press for making him a rockstar. “Thanks to the media,” he recalled in his book, “I became more than just a basketball player.” 

The Chicago Bulls player however states that he’s been always projected as an anti-hero. He rejects that notion. “It’s always me against me,” he said. “The old conservative Dennis versus the new, free Dennis.”

Before the Spurs, Dennis had no motivation to get up in the morning. To keep up his motivation, he started visiting queer clubs, meeting new people, and acting at his mind’s will.

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Notably, Dennis is a trailblazer in vocalizing the LGBTQ community. “I did it for me, to make me happy not as a marketing strategy,” says the Spurs legend about his activities for queer people.

Dennis Rodman’s idea of fame

The rebounder is always anomalous, both on and off the court. Dennis says that he freed people out of an invisible bind. That makes them stick to certain rules in the world. “I freed people up to do, say, feel, dress the way they want.”

According to Dennis, fame is a good thing as it’ll make him alive in people’s mind. “I’ll be remembered not only for being a hell of a basketball player but more importantly as the guy who did something only a handful of people have done.”

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Dennis Rodman is right. It takes a great deal of courage to do what you love. The player did fight some battles against the world for just being him. And he’s absolutely no regrets about it.