Imagine having won five NBA championships, three of which were with the Chicago Bulls… as a member of the iconic trio of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. Not to mention your two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Now, imagine not being at the top of your daughter’s list of sporting idols. Well, unfortunately for Dennis, that’s Trinity Rodman’s list, and sitting at the top is her father’s former teammate, Kobe Bryant.

Before rocking the 2024 Paris Olympics with her emphatic performance for the US Women’s National Team to win gold, the Washington Spirits forward sat down for a chat with Vogue magazine. The interviewer asked, “Did you have any athlete role models or inspirations [in your youth]?” Trinity surprisingly said, “Kobe Bryant was a big one.”

Explaining her choice, the 22-year-old added, “Obviously, I had a personal connection with him, so that added to it.” Born in 2002, Trinity Rodman didn’t witness her father and Kobe’s partnership firsthand. After completing a three-peat with the Bulls, Dennis Rodman played for the Lakers in the 1998-99 season, teaming up with the dynamic (but volatile) duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Now, Rodman didn’t appreciate their feud, but he sure respected them as players. And that went both ways.

Dennis and Kobe played only 23 games together in LA, but the latter’s respect for Rodman extended beyond that stint. In fact, it started long before ‘The Worm’ even joined the Lakers. In 2008, Bryan said, “As an athlete, Dennis was a freak of nature. In terms of his size, he ran like a deer. He could run all day; he could defend from the one position all the way up to the five.”

Rodman was a menace on the floor, stopping everyone’s advances – from Jordan to Shaq. And that’s what Kobe used to admire. However, Trinity was more drawn to mentality than physicality, one aspect where no one was better than Kobe. Why do you think he was called the ‘Black Mamba’? In the interview, Trinity Rodman explained, “His mentality was like no other. The way that he worked the court, the way that he would toy with defenders. I always preach that being able to play with the defense is a huge part of the game.”

Alongside training his body for the fast-paced game that is basketball, Bryant also dedicated significant time to training his mind. And by doing that – by strengthening that Mamba mentality – he found it easier to get into the minds of his opponents and take advantage. For a forward like Trinity Rodman, getting past the defenses of her opposition is what she needs to do, and that’s where channeling Kobe Bryant works for her.

She learned all the psychological positives of the ‘Black Mamba’ that the Lakers icon used to exhibit on the court. “Kobe was so mentally fit all the time. Even if his team lost, he was winning the one-on-one battle,” acknowledged Trinity. Notably, this wasn’t the first time Trinity Rodman spoke highly of KB8.

Just a week before making her 2023 FIFA World Cup debut, the Spirits forward called Bryant an “amazing human being” and admitted that “he’ll always be a GOAT for me.” As for an idol in the soccer world, Trinity Rodman gave a special shoutout to Tobin Heath. “I feel like, in her game, she shows a lot of creativity and spunk while also being explosive and fast,” Rodman said about the 36-year-old forward.

“You can tell her mind is going a million miles per hour, but when she gets on the ball, everything slows down. It’s amazing to watch. She’s someone I’ve studied a lot.” The 22-year-old clearly has an appreciation for the mental aspect of every sport, and she strives to emulate the likes of Kobe Bryant and Tobin Heath. But what about her father? Well, although she may not have included her in this list, Dennis sure got an acknowledgment for something he remained controversial for most of the time.

Trinity Rodman admits her father “changed” the fashion game!

Beyond basketball, Dennis often made headlines for his bold fashion choices, mostly seen in his time off the court. For Trinity, however, it was a revolution that few would ever bring. “I think he changed the game,” said the recent gold winner on his dad’s style influence continuing today. “I think he started that crazy out-there fashion in the NBA… what he did in his time, it shows today.”

Trinity also insisted that by questionable fashion choices, Dennis showcased to the world that one shouldn’t be afraid to express themselves. And fashion is the best way to do it. Interestingly, when asked to rate her favorite Dennis Rodman looks over the years, she said, “I would say it’s the more feminine ones, which I think are just so cool.”

Acknowledging that her dad’s trend is being kept alive by NBA players and celebrities today, she remembered a few of his controversial fashion choices, too. Be it the sparkly tank top with baggy jeans—something a male would hardly ever wear back in those days—a smiley face hairstyle, or putting on a wedding dress, which Trinity felt was “a freaking statement,” the NWSL star adored all of it.

Perhaps this might be the area where Dennis Rodman is her superstar daughter’s inspiration.