Dennis Rodman is undeniably one of the most iconic players in NBA history. Having established himself as one of the greatest rebounders of all time, many were in awe of The Worm’s defensive abilities. Standing at just 6’7″, Rodman was a savant when it came to rebounding. So much so, that he inspired many a basketball player, including Dallas Mavericks legend Tyson Chandler. As he revealed on the All the Smoke podcast, Chandler learned a lot from Rodman, leading to him earning $187,576,101 in his career.
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Many credit Rodman for understanding the art of rebounding as a science. The Hall of Famer would routinely ask his teammates to shoot and miss in practice so that he could study the movements of the ball. By doing so, he learned where the ball would go after hitting the rim. Additionally, he also made note of how many spins a ball made when shot by a particular player, furthering his knowledge. This resulted in him earning a reputation at first as a tenacious rebounder and now, one of the best to ever do it.
Tyson Chandler learned the art of rebounding from watching Dennis Rodman play
Recently, Dennis Rodman received his flowers from another great defensive stopper. Tyson Chandler appeared on the All the Smoke podcast, where he heaped praise on The Worm. Crediting him for his incredible rebounding abilities, Chandler detailed how he learned how to rebound by observing Rodman.
Known for his erratic and somewhat crafty rebounding ability, Rodman perfected the art of tipping. Rather than grab the ball straight off the rim, the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls legend tipped the ball once or twice before grabbing it completely. Chandler also embraced this style but had to add his own twist to it.
Admitting that he wasn’t as crafty as the 6’7″ forward, Chandler instead used his height, strength, and jumping ability to reach the ball first and then tip it. By employing this technique, he went on to have a fruitful career, becoming an NBA Champion in 2011 and winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2012. All en route to earning $187,576,101 in his 19-year career.
“So I got it from the thought of Dennis Rodman. So Rodman was a great rebounder and he would do it and just keep tapping the ball until he got it to himself. When I started becoming a good rebounder and guys were double-teaming me on box out and stuff, I was like, ‘I don’t know what made him crafty like that!'”
His ability to crash the boards just like Rodman made him a valuable asset to many teams. Toward the end of his career, he became somewhat of a journeyman. Nevertheless, his stint with the Dallas Mavericks is fondly remembered, and he is now considered a legend among the Mavs faithful. However, none of this may have happened if he hadn’t studied Dennis Keith Rodman.
Chandler was motivated to win the 2011 NBA title after witnessing Dwyane Wade’s showboating
Having learned a lot from Dennis Rodman, in 2011, Tyson Chandler formed a formidable frontcourt pair with Dirk Nowitzki. Finding themselves in the NBA Finals, the two were key to the Dallas Mavericks’ success in the season. All that was left was to get past the Miami Heat and the Heatles.
It was a tough match-up. After all, they were going up against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. However, Chandler credits D-Wade for helping the Mavs secure their first championship. Why? Well, it was his showboating in Game 2 that woke the team up.
The 2011 NBA Finals was an iconic moment for the city of Dallas. Not only did they capture their first title, but it also propelled many of their players into legendary status. The likes of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Dirk, and of course, Chandler all got their first ring. Essentially, cementing their place in the annals of history.
