After completing a three-peat in 1993, Michael Jordan decided to switch things up by putting an end to his basketball career and trying his luck at baseball. Upon his return to the Chicago Bulls in 1995, the Orlando Magic would eliminate them in the second round of the playoffs. That very offseason, Jerry Krause and the Bulls management added Dennis Rodman to the roster. The All-Star trio of MJ, Scottie Pippen, and Rodman led the Chicago-based franchise to three consecutive championships from 1996-1998. Despite being the best rebounder of the 1990s, Rodman was shockingly snubbed by Jordan when asked to name the greatest rebounder ever. During the 2005 Cigar Aficionado interview with Marvin Shanken, His Airness picked a Philadelphia 76ers legend instead.
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During the 1995 playoff battle between the Magic and the Bulls, Shaquille O’Neal and Horace Grant would dominate the paint for Orlando, collecting all the rebounds. Severely lacking a rebounding presence, Jordan and Phil Jackson suggested Rodman be acquired by the franchise right after they lost.
While the Worm was an eccentric character, Mike and the Zen Master promised to handle all of his tantrums. Despite Dennis the Menace’s off-court antics, the Bulls were the most dominant team in the association with him on the roster.
Michael Jordan picks his GOAT rebounder
In the iconic Cigar Aficionado interview, during his conversation with Marvin Shanken, Air Jordan made his pick for the greatest rebounder of all time. Without hesitating, the Bulls legend picked Moses Malone.
Shanken: “Best rebounder?”
Jordan: “Moses [Malone]. No doubt it was Moses.”
Rodman averaged 13.1 rebounds throughout his 14-year career and won 7 rebounding titles. Whereas, Moses tallied 12.3 RPG while winning one less rebounding title than Rodman.
When we take a look at the stats, Rodman is clearly a better rebounder.
However, we have to consider Malone’s longevity while discussing the same. If we take a look at the first 14 seasons of Malone’s 21-year career, he recorded a staggering 13.7 rebounds per game, 0.6 more than DR. Malone also tops Rodman in the all-time rebounding list.
Hence, it’s pretty evident why Jordan didn’t pick his Bulls teammate aside from his unhealthy relationship with Rodman.
MJ, Scottie, and Rodman never had a conversation during their time as teammates
Being one of the most accomplished teams in the history of the game, the Bulls’ on-court chemistry was great. However, their bond, off the court, was not so great.
As Rodman would reveal, the three Hall-Of-Famers never had a conversation off the hardwood in the three years they spent as teammates.
“Me, Scottie, and Michael never had a conversation in three years in Chicago. Only time we had a conversation was on the court. That was it, and nobody believes that. I had a conversation with Jud Buechler, Randy Brown, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, and other players. But, me, Michael, and Scottie, we never had conversations at all of the court .”
While they might not have been the best of friends, it didn’t matter to the front office given how successful the team was.
