Dennis Rodman was among the most formidable forces to dominate the NBA in the late 80s and the early 90s. He was drafted to Detroit Pistons in 1986 and was one of the original ‘Bad Boys’ of the Pistons. He is a 5-time NBA Champion, winning consecutively with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990 and completing the threepeat between 1996-1998. The era of the Bad Boys Pistons was one of the golden ears of the franchise. The team was winning championships and was feared in the NBA. Even NBA Commissioner David Stern had no problem with them at all. However, after the emergence of Michael Jordan in the league, the Bad Boys faced trouble on the court. Dennis Rodman reflected on this era and how Jordan ended the Bad Boys in his book I Should Be Dead Now.
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During that era, the Pistons were criticized for their physical playstyle and unfair tactics. After eight years of playing with Jordan, Rodman revealed that the league started paying attention to the Bad Boys right after the Bulls and Jordan started emerging as top contenders for the NBA title.
Dennis Rodman revealed Michael Jordan’s rise played a crucial role in the fall of the Pistons ‘Bad Boys’
The Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ were feared during their era in the NBA. The Bad Boys, consisting of Dennis Rodman, John Salley, and Adrian Dantley, had adopted a defensive style of play, which would often disrupt the offense of the opposition teams.
Dennis Rodman, in his 2006 book I Should Be Dead Now, notes:
“Stern became commissioner in 1984, the same year Michael Jordan came into the league. Early on, when Detroit was winning back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990, Stern loved the “Bad Boys,” and had no problem with us living up to the name—kicking people’s asses, throwing people down. But when Jordan and the Bulls started coming on, he turned his back on us. All of a sudden he was like, ‘These guys are dirty.'”
David Stern understood the rise of the Bulls under Michael Jordan. After the 1990s, the league became much more stringent with the Bad Boys. Earlier, while the notorious group could dominate the league with their aggressive defense, the league started calling the boys out, all because of Jordan’s influence. Speaking of the same, Dennis Rodman further adds,
“We weren’t dirty. We were men playing basketball—not boys, but men. You drive the line, you will pay. Bill Laimbeer was known for putting your ass on the canvas, and Rick Mahorn did the same thing. Back in the day, when somebody knocked you on your ass, you got up and played. Today, somebody knocks you on your ass, and they call a ‘flagrant foul.’ “
The Piston Bad Boys went on to dominate the league till around 1992. Following this, Dennis Rodman joined the Bulls in 1995, pairing with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Dennis Rodman’s role in Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat
Dennis Rodman played a crucial role in the Bull’s second three-peat from 1996 to 1998. He played 199 regular season games averaging 5.2 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists during that period. Furthermore, he even won three rebounding titles and was averaging a career-high 3.1 assists in 1997.
In the playoff games, Rodman averaged 5.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over 58 games. Although the trio of Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman had incredible chemistry on the court, they did not have a particularly close relationship off it. Despite that many people feel Pippen, Rodman, and Jordan’s chemistry made the Bulls unstoppable during their ‘Last Dance’ in the late 90s.
