Greatness on the court, chaos off it—that’s the bittersweet reality Trinity Rodman sees when she reflects on her father’s legacy. Despite his achievements, his daughter, Trinity believes things could have been different if he hadn’t been surrounded by so many toxic influences. But the NWSL star has long given up the idea of the NBA star being the father figure she never had growing up. 

Dennis Rodman’s childhood was full of troubles, being the oldest of what he claims to be 47 siblings. His father, Philander Rodman, stated that Dennis had 26 or 27 siblings and abandoned him and his family at a young age. Growing up in the poorer areas of Dallas, Dennis was surrounded by a lot of negative influences, a pattern that would continue throughout his basketball career.

In a chat with Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Trinity Rodman reveals how people would take advantage of Dennis, knowing he struggled with a range of personal issues. “With how successful and rich he was, he was surrounded by a lot of toxic people, who would take his money and take advantage of him,” says Trinity. 

“He was brainwashed and all that, and didn’t really have control over anything,” added Trinity, emphasizing that she and her family tried to be positive influences around him. However, in reality, Rodman felt that they only wanted him for his money, which wasn’t the case as per the Washington Spirit forward.

Looking at Rodman’s finances, he went from earning over $30 million in salaries throughout his career to now being worth around $500,000. The five-time NBA champion has struggled with alcohol abuse, legal issues, gambling, and poor investments, all of which contributed to his financial losses over the years.

Rodman’s scandals, scams and shenanigans

Remember back in 1994 when Rodman had a highly publicized affair with Madonna? That was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the NBA star’s off-camera antics. From wearing a wedding dress to promote his autobiography to his controversial visits to North Korea, his adventures have been bizarre.  The same can be said about his relationship with Trinity Rodman. 

Apart from parties, Dennis was also a frequent visitor to courtrooms, facing divorces, misdemeanors, domestic violence cases, and drunk driving incidents. While his on-court legacy as a player is admirable, the same cannot be said for his off-field persona. But that did not stop him from getting an invite to The Vatican for Pope Francis’ selection in 2013. 

There’s no denying the significant influence, whether it be good or bad that Dennis Rodman brought to the sport. There were reports that the United States used the NBA star as a negotiator to set terms with North Korea. Regardless, fans believe that if Rodman had not taken the path he chose, he might not have achieved the same legendary status he holds today. But at what cost?