After Phil Jackson was Hired by Lakers, Dennis Rodman Predicted Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Couldn’t Win a Championship: “Then They’ll Call Me”

Nithin Joseph | 22/05/2023
After Phil Jackson was Hired by Lakers, Dennis Rodman Predicted Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant Couldn't Win a Championship: "Then They'll Call Me"

In 1999, following his departure from the Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers hired Phil Jackson as their new head coach. It was an exciting time in LA, and the franchise’s two superstars, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were raring to go. Even the Zen Master’s former Bulls player, Dennis Rodman was ecstatic about the news. Although, he believed they wouldn’t win anything.

Jackson was out of a job after coaching Chicago to its sixth NBA Championship. But, it didn’t take long for him to find a new role. The LA Lakers were the perfect landing spot for Phil. After all, they had quite the team.

The Lakers were formidable with Shaq, Kobe, Ron Harper, Glen Rice, and Robert Horry. But, as revealed in the Three Ring Circus by Jeff Pearlman, The Worm believed they wouldn’t amount to much. That is until and unless they called him to play for them.

Dennis Rodman believed Phil Jackson would not be able to deliver a ring in LA without him

Things were looking good for the LA Lakers ahead of the 1999-2000 season. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were perhaps the best duo in the league, and they had just hired a coach to take them to the next level.

They seemed destined for success with the six-time champion at the helm. However, Dennis Rodman didn’t think so. While he was happy to see his former coach with the Lakers, he believed they did not have a strong enough roster to win a championship. But, he did have a solution, signing him.

The Worm did actually play 23 games for the Lakers a season earlier. And, given his closeness with Jackson, he expected a phone call. Unfortunately, his phone never rang, and his prediction for the Lakers never came true.

Pearlman wrote:

“At his home in Newport Beach, Dennis Rodman a thrice champion with the Bulls under Jackson was convinced his phone would be ringing any day now. ‘They ain’t gonna win with what they’ve got, I’ll tell you that,’ he told a reporter. ‘I know what’s going to happen. They’ll wait until the last minute, and then they’ll call me.'”

Just how wrong was Rodman’s prediction? Well, the Lakers went on to become only the second team in NBA history to complete a three-peat. All under Phil’s tutelage.

Dennis Rodman was incredibly wrong about Jackson’s reign in LA

Dennis Rodman was of the opinion that the Lakers would never amount to anything without him. But, he couldn’t have been more wrong. The Lakers thrived under Phil Jackson, winning three NBA Championships in a row between 2000 and 2002. And, both Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were an integral part of their success.

Jackson would spend the next 12 years as the Lakers’ head coach, winning two more NBA Championships. He truly is a legend, who was capable of coaching any team to success.

Post Edited By: Utathya Ghosh
Dennis Rodman Kobe Bryant Phil Jackson Shaquille O'Neal

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.

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