Dennis Rodman on His Lakers Stint: “Kobe and Shaq Would Be So Envious of Me… They Couldn’t Stand Me on That Damn Team”

Published 01/17/2022, 10:20 PM EST

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal are one of the most legendary duos to come around in the NBA. They took the Los Angeles Lakers to its old glory once again. Their duo was always at the center stage. However, the entry of Dennis Rodman changed things and they allegedly grew really envious of him.

When it comes to an NBA player, Rodman is one of the most unique. Undoubtedly, The Worm is one of the greatest rebounders of all time. However, his character was totally different as compared to other players. While most players would focus on practicing, Rodman had other interests (some of which were covered in Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance).

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These things did not sit well with Kobe and Shaq.

Did Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal not like Dennis Rodman?

After the Chicago Bulls released him in 1998, Rodman didn’t play a game for six months. Then he returned with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1998-99 season. While his stint was short, Rodman revealed how he and the Kobe-Shaq duo won their first 10 games together. However, it seems the three were not on the best terms as Mamba and Shaq supposedly grew jealous towards Rodman.

Watch this story: Things Dennis Rodman Can’t Live Without

In an interview, he stated: “So I started playing with Kobe and Shaq and stuff like that. So I would come to the stadium and people would actually come to see me because they haven’t seen me in six months. So Kobe and Shaq would be so envious of me. They catered to me so much about me coming to the game, going out to the game, having parties, doing this, doing that, hotel stuff. They couldn’t stand me on that damn team to be honest with you.”

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This may have some truth because firstly, both Kobe Bryant and Shaq were prime players. And when Rodman came in, fans took to him instead of the two. Moreover, Mamba and Shaquille O’Neal both were hungry for a title. And with Rodman’s character, he wasn’t the most disciplined player. Hence, they did not like Rodman’s outside lifestyle of going out to parties and taking his kind of breaks.

This was the reason Rodman was a part of the Lakers for just 23 games. He averaged 2.1 points and 11.2 rebounds in his stint with the Laker before he was let go in the off season. Clearly, Rodman isn’t a player for everyone and even Michael Jordan had to face a lot to keep up with the Worm. But he got his fruits for doing so. Rodman played his final season with the Dallas Mavericks before taking a final break from the game.

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What do you think of Rodman’s comments? Let us know in the comments below.

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Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He is a student studying at NM College in Mumbai, aspiring to pursue sports management to follow his love for sports. Anuj started following the NBA last year, and he loves to combine his passion for writing with his understanding of basketball.

Dennis Rodman on His Lakers Stint: “Kobe and Shaq Would Be So Envious of Me… They Couldn’t Stand Me on That Damn Team”

Did Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal not like Dennis Rodman?

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