?I Was Suffering?: Despite NBA Fame, Miserable Dennis Rodman Was ?Forced? to Evolve After Relentless Agony

Just like every other person out there, NBA players are often made to ask a few questions about themselves. Questions about whether what they are doing at the moment is enough. Whether what they have achieved is enough. Despite all the fame that they gain in a span of a few years, a feeling of self-doubt continues to exist amongst the most skilled and the most famous.

Detroit Pistons legend Dennis Rodman went through a similar situation once and he documented it in a way that his tale would be accessible to fans everywhere. The doubts that he faced made him embark on a life-altering decision.

Dennis Rodman once asked himself, “Is that all there is?”

Published in 2006, I Should Be Dead By Now is Dennis Rodman?s autobiography. It covers various parts of his life, including his time with the Chicago Bulls, his relationships, and the struggles he faced after retirement in 2000.

An excerpt from the book features Rodman talking about a moment when everything seemed to be falling apart. Reeling from a period when he had to bid adieu to someone he considered to be a father figure, the player felt the pressure of also losing match after match during his time with the Pistons.

If that wasn?t enough, Rodman had developed a strained relationship with his family members. His daughter Alexis lived back in California while his ex-wife, Annie Bakes, who had severed all ties with the player.

?While I?d fulfilled most of my dreams in the NBA, won a couple of championships, a series of rebounding and defensive honors, I was suffering from a severe case of ‘is-that-all-there-is syndrome,’? Rodman wrote in his book. A feeling of self-doubt started to creep into the mind of the player. In his struggle to become an ?NBA poster boy,??Rodman claimed to have lost his true identity.

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Reaching upon a decision, the future Hall of Famer decided to ?put the rifle down? and do what he wanted to do. Seeking to turn into ?the new Dennis Rodman’, he asked his team for a trade and joined the San Antonio Spurs. He was ready to introduce the world to the new him.

Rodman created trouble for himself after the moment of self-doubt

Dennis Rodman?s time with the San Antonio Spurs had its own troubles. His troubled relationship with the team?s then-general manager, Gregg Popovich, caused some problems. Describing him as ?Mr. Military?, Rodman claimed in his book that Popovich tried to convert the player into ?a good soldier? and berated him when he didn?t listen.

Just as he had described in the book, a new Rodman began to emerge. Leaving his shy?image, however, led to the player adopting a behavior that could be termed as ?unruly?.

Rodman started to dye his hair in colors ranging from blonde to purple. From getting suspended multiple times to missing game after game, Rodman?s new attitude was creating more trouble for the player than he had ever seen.

The Spurs eventually decided that ‘Dennis the Menace’ was not worth the trouble. He was traded to the Chicago Bulls after two seasons. While the player was far from trouble even then, his time with the Bulls created a legacy that is still talked about by NBA enthusiasts.

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