Michael Jordan Gave Perfect Description Of Being Teammates With Dennis Rodman: ‘He’s Gonna Go Wacko Every Now And Then, But You Can’t Find Another Player That Works Just As Hard As Dennis’

After the Chicago Bulls won their fifth NBA championship in 1997, Michael Jordan was asked if he wanted Dennis Rodman back on the team. 

Both Jordan and Rodman were free agents in 1997 and MJ made sure everyone in the world knew that he wanted Rodzilla back. 

“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.”

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

In the offseason of 1994, the Bulls lost Horace Grant to the Orlando Magic. Without Grant in the middle, Chicago didn’t have a defensive stopper or rebounder, which is why general manager Jerry Krause was forced to trade for Rodman in 1995.

In 199 games with the Bulls, Rodman played his role perfectly. The NBA legend averaged 5.2 points, 15.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks and was a pest on defense.

Opposing centers despised playing against Rodman because he never ran out of energy and loved being an instigator.

While Rodman anchored the middle, Jordan focused on scoring and Pippen was the top do-it-all-player in the league. The Bulls won three straight NBA championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. They had a top-10 offense and defense each season with Jordan, Pippen and Rodman leading the way.

It’s pretty fascinating that Jordan and Rodman became teammates and won rings together. After all, Rodman wore a wedding dress once, married himself, changed the color of his hair numerous times and hung out at gay bars during his free time. 

Jordan and Pippen didn’t hang out with Rodman off the court. However, when it was time to go to battle, MJ and Pip wanted Rodman by their side when it mattered most.

Jordan is undoubtedly the best player in Bulls history. He won six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs and 10 scoring titles in Chicago and holds 27 franchise records.

Rodman is considered a Bulls icon as well despite only playing three seasons in the Windy City.

Despite all of his theatrics, Rodman is the Bulls’ all-time leader in rebounds per game, offensive rebound percentage, defensive rebound percentage and total rebound percentage.

He also won three rebounding titles with Chicago.