Untold Persona of Dennis Rodman Exposed After Kobe Bryant Similarities Surface: “These People Fooled”

What if everything you thought you knew about Dennis Rodman was only half the truth? What if behind the piercings, colored hair, and wild media headlines, there was a man whose work ethic quietly mirrored that of Kobe Bryant — the very symbol of basketball discipline and focus? A recent podcast by TCG Sports with NBA veteran Byron Scott and legendary designer Jeff Hamilton just dropped a bombshell that’s making fans question everything.

The conversation started off as a heartfelt discussion on Kobe Bryant, the man who built his legacy on discipline, never-ending effort, and his unshakable mindset. While sharing their views, the conversation took an unexpected turn! A surprising name was brought into the mix. Not Jordan, not LeBron… but Dennis Rodman. Wait, Rodman? The “Worm”? Could he be in the same conversation as the Black Mamba for work ethic?

Byron Scott took listeners into Kobe’s intense routine. “Kobe used to call me at 5 in the morning,” he said. “I don’t wake up until 6, 6:30, so he started calling me at 6. He’d say, ‘Coach, what are we doing today?’ And I’d tell him, ‘You’re not doing anything. Don’t even come to practice today.’” Did Kobe listen to his coach? Nope! Na-da. “He’d come to practice anyway and then work out two more times after that.” That’s Kobe. Tireless, Unstoppable.

Jeff Hamilton surprised everyone by adding: “You know who used to do that?”. “Dennis Rodman. When he was with the Pistons.” Byron Scott laughed, replying, “Dennis was crazy.” But Hamilton wasn’t having it. The Moroccan designer protested against Bryon Scott’s comments, implying that Rodman was nowhere near crazy. “He used to work out after games with the Pistons. He’d do another hour on the treadmill!” Hamilton added.

The host also added to the conversation, talking about Rodman’s training sessions before each game. Scott nodded as he recalled, “Playing against him, I knew he wasn’t crazy. But sitting down with him, I was like, man… this dude ain’t crazy. This dude is smart as hell. Some of the stuff he was asking me? I was like, man, you got these people fooled.” And then Jeff hit the nail on the head: “It’s a persona.”

So here’s the big question: Was Dennis Rodman’s ‘wild man’ image just a disguise? A cleverly put-together act to deflect attention from the truth – that he was grinding just as hard, if not harder, than his peers? Could it be that the most unpredictable, out-of-the-way player in NBA history was also one of its most disciplined behind the scenes?

The revelation flipped the script upside down. While Kobe’s work ethic has always been front and center, Rodman’s dedication was happening in the shadows — away from the cameras, behind the headlines. He was lifting, running, and training harder than anyone thought. And maybe, just maybe, he wanted us to underestimate him. Why? So he could keep working without distractions. So he could out-think the game while the world watched the show.

Rodman and Kobe: Agree to disagree

Both men were misunderstood in their own way. While Kobe was intense, calculated, and methodical, Rodman was chaotic, unfiltered, and loud. But peel back the layers, and you’ll find the same fire burning underneath. Dennis didn’t care for the spotlight unless it served his game. Just like Kobe didn’t care for fame unless it was earned through sweat.

Just ask yourself, who plays 40 minutes of lockdown defense, grabs 20 rebounds, then hits the treadmill for another hour? Who trains before the game and after, not for show, but because it’s who they are? That was Rodman. That was Kobe. And that’s what makes them both legends in their own right.

So maybe it’s time we stop asking who was crazier and start asking: Who worked harder to fool us all into thinking they were just “talented,” when in reality, they were way above the league?

Because behind the dyed hair and the Mamba stare, were two warriors quietly building legacies that will never fade.