Dennis Rodman Was Suspended By NBA For 11 Games After Kicking Cameraman In Groin: ‘The Man Was Taken To The Hospital’

During the 1996-97 NBA season, Chicago Bulls big man Dennis Rodman kicked a cameraman in the groin in January against the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

The NBA suspended Rodman for 11 games and the cameraman was taken to the hospital. 

Bulls icon Scottie Pippen wrote about Rodman kicking the cameraman in his book, “Unguarded.”

“After failing to secure a rebound in the third quarter against the Timberwolves, Dennis kicked a cameraman in the groin,” Pippen wrote. “The man was taken to the hospital and later released. The league suspended him this time, and it was for eleven games.”

Rodman appeared in 55 games for the Bulls in 1996-97. The NBA legend averaged 5.7 points, 16.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks. 

Chicago went 69-13 in the regular season. In the 1997 playoffs, the Bulls beat the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Utah Jazz to capture their fifth championship. 

After the 1997 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan was asked by a reporter if he wanted Rodman back and His Airness made it clear that Chicago needed to re-sign Rodzilla despite his berserk nature.

“His dresses doesn’t bother me,” Jordan said. “His hair doesn’t bother me. Sure, I mean, he’s gonna go wacko every now and then. We’ve come to live with that. We’ve come to accept that. But you can’t find another player on the basketball court that works just as hard as Dennis Rodman. Gives 110%, dives at loose balls even if he can’t get them. That’s Dennis Rodman. So I don’t have a problem with Dennis, and I don’t think Phil does. I don’t think Scottie does. We’ve been able to control him to some degree, and we’re here for champions back-to-back.”

Rodman didn’t make an All-Star team during his three-year run in Chicago. However, he was a force on the boards and helped Jordan and the Bulls three-peat for a second time. 

In 199 games with the Bulls, Rodman played his role to a T. He averaged 5.2 points and 15.3 rebounds and was a defensive pest. Opposing big men hated playing against Rodman because he never ran out of energy and loved being an instigator.