Michael Jordan Had To Drag Dennis Rodman Out Of Bed To Bulls Practice From In-Season Vacation With Carmen Electra: ‘I’m Not Gonna Say What’s In His Bed And Where He Was’

During the 1997-98 NBA season, Dennis Rodman took an in-season vacation from the Chicago Bulls. He went to Las Vegas with Carmen Electra and was only supposed to be gone for 48 hours. 

However, Rodman was away from the Bulls for more than 48 hours, which forced Michael Jordan to drag the party animal out of his bed and back to practice. 

“He didn’t come back on time,” Jordan said in Episode 4 of The Last Dance. “We had to go get his ass out of bed. And I’m not gonna say what’s in his bed and where he was.”

Rodman said in The Last Dance that he appreciated Jordan and Scottie Pippen for accepting him for who he was. 

“Michael and Scottie accepted me for who I am,” Rodman said. “I go party hard, but I work hard. I think that we get along so well because we wanna win. We wanna win a championship.”

Rodman appeared in 80 games for the Bulls in 1997-98. He averaged 4.7 points, 15.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 43.1% from the field.

The NBA legend led the league in rebounds per game. 

The Bulls went 62-20 in 1997-98. Jordan averaged 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 46.5% overall, 23.8% from beyond the arc and 78.4% from the free-throw line. MJ won his 10th scoring title and fifth MVP.

Chicago defeated the New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers in the 1998 Eastern Conference playoffs to advance to the NBA Finals. The Bulls faced the Utah Jazz in the ’98 NBA Finals, their opponent from the ’97 Finals. 

After the Bulls beat the Jazz in Game 3 of the ’98 NBA Finals on June 7, Rodman skipped practice the next day to fly to Detroit and wrestle with Hulk Hogan.

Chicago fined Rodman $10,000.

“I just think that Phil realized that I need to always do me,” Rodman said in The Last Dance doc. “Just go do what I do. … They’re gonna get 100% when I’m on the court.”

The Bulls defeated the Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals in six games for their sixth title in franchise history. Jordan won his sixth Finals MVP, Pippen won his sixth ring and Rodman captured his fifth championship. 

After the 1997-98 season, Jordan retired from the NBA, the Bulls traded Pippen to the Houston Rockets in a sign-and-trade deal and Rodman signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.