© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dennis Rodman compares playing with Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen and Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant
Dennis Rodman shared the differences between playing with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen for the Chicago Bulls and with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant for the LA Lakers. To sum it up, it was a lot more drama during his time with the Purple and Gold.
“In Chicago, we never did this sh*t. If we got mad, we got mad at ourselves,” Rodman said.
Rodman’s time with the Lakers
The Lakers had a wild 1998-99 season, featuring a 37-year-old Rodman. The organization signed The Worm a few weeks into the lockout shortened season in an effort to add defense, rebounding and experience. Los Angeles went on a 10-game winning streak shortly after Rodman joined the team; however, things quickly soured.
Reports of Rodman constantly throwing parties and showing up late to practice (sometimes without shoes or socks) began to pile up. Just seven weeks after the Lakers brought him in, Rodman was waived and the Lakers were eventually swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 1999 NBA Playoffs.
Dennis tried to help the Lakers reach the promised land, but ended up playing in just 23 games. Despite his short stint in LA, he did average 11.2 rebounds in 28.6 minutes at 37 years old.
Dennis speaks out
Rodman was a plus for the Lakers on the court. So why did his tenure in LA end so quickly?
The seven-time NBA rebounding champion appeared on CBS Sports’ “Reiter Than You” with Bill Reiter and said that he was fed up with Shaq and Kobe’s bickering, which demotivated him to keep himself in check off the court.
“So I start playing, right, we won 10 games in a row,” Rodman explained. “Ten games in a row when I got there, right? I said, ‘Jerry, I gotta take a break.’ One reason: Shaq and Kobe. I couldn’t deal with those [expletives]. I’m not going to lie to you: I couldn’t deal with them. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not used to this,’ right? I’m used to winning, but I can’t deal with these [expletives expletive-ing] every [expletive] game. Like, [expletive]. I mean, every, I’m like, [expletive], we’re winning, what? So I go and I say... ‘I’m so used to having calm and serenity and stuff like that.’”
Rodman does not remember his time with the Lakers fondly. He suggested that Shaq and Kobe were a bit too dramatic compared to MJ and Pippen.
The failed Rodman experiment might have helped the Lakers in the long run. The team needed more stability and a new direction, so they brought Phil Jackson after that season, and with O’Neal and Bryant, he led the Lakers to three straight championships.
