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“Dennis Rodman locked down both Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway”: How ‘The Worm’ did his thing against two of the most potent offensive threats of the 90s

Samir Mehdi
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“Dennis Rodman locked down both Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway”: How ‘The Worm’ did his thing against two of the most potent offensive threats of the 90s

Dennis Rodman defended Penny Hardaway better than anyone could and outrebounded Shaquille O’Neal while on the San Antonio Spurs. 

Dennis Rodman is one of the most underappreciated defensive stars the league has ever seen. ‘The Last Dance’ docuseries from last summer, thankfully, did wonders for the Bulls legend as it showcased just how maniacal he was in his quest to win. Though, the one thing he did struggle with was motivation, leading extravagant Las Vegas vacations. 

Dennis Rodman was one of, if not, the best perimeter defender of his era and looking back at it now, it was quite unfair that the Chicago Bulls had him along with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on their squad. Defense and rebounding was what ‘The Worm’ was known for and he played his part to a ‘T’.

Also read: “LeBron James acts too entitled and wouldn’t survive the ‘80s”: When Mychal Thompson firmly believed the Lakers superstar wouldn’t be the same if he played in the 1980s

There are countless instances of that showcase Rodman’s relentless drive to outrebound a ‘fellow’ big man and the one shown below is just one such instance, coupled with excellent defense on Penny Hardaway. 

Dennis Rodman and his game against Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. 

It’s unclear which game this is between the Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs but it does seem as though it is the March 12th, 1995 one. This game saw Dennis Rodman casually grab 23 rebounds and score 11 points en route to a close game that saw the Spurs lose by 6 to Shaq and his crew. 

The loss shouldn’t take away from the fact that ‘Dennis the Menace’ came out to play on both ends of the floor. Though, his defense on Penny Hardaway and him battling the boards with Shaquille O’Neal would be considered the highlight for his night.

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Also read: “Hakeem Olajuwon crosses over Shaquille O’Neal!”: How the savvy Rockets legend got past ‘The Big Aristotle’ from way out on the perimeter

It’s still quite unfathomable that a 6’7 forward like Dennis Rodman would be that proficient on the boards, even when going up against 7’1 centers like Shaq. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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