Dennis Rodman is undoubtedly one of the most eccentric personalities in the world of sports. His polarizing actions are well known throughout the basketball community and beyond. The five-time NBA champion, who recently claimed that he can help Brittney Griner in Russia, is the unofficial peace ambassador to North Korea. However, that wouldn’t have been possible if not for his Chicago Bulls teammates Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Rodman is a friend of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. In fact, Rodman has visited the country multiple times. He went there for the first time in 2013 for an exhibition game. While he became one of the first Americans to meet Kim Jong-un, he wasn’t the first Bulls legend to be asked to visit the country.

The North Korean regime were big Chicago Bulls fans. Initially, they had asked Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen but both of them said no. The seven-time rebounding champion claimed that he was unaware of the authoritarian regime. He said, “I thought it was like, well, North Korea, I’m going over there to sign autographs and stuff like that, take pictures.”

However, things changed after meeting Kim a few times. “They gave me the presidential suite in the best hotel in North Korea“, Rodman stated. He is always treated like royalty whenever he visits the country. He said, “I was like, ‘Wow.’ I just fell in love with their country because they were so loving.”

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Dennis Rodman also claimed that he contributed to the release of American prisoners from North Korea. Similarly to how he is trying currently in the case of Brittney Griner. He is the main factor behind the ‘basketball diplomacy’ between the US and North Korea.

Dennis Rodman dominated the NBA alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen

Although he was arguably a difficult personality to work with, the Bulls somehow made it work. He signed with the Chicago Bulls in 1995. Rodman was a crucial part of the second Bulls three-peat team. While Michael Jordan took most of the plaudits for their success, it wouldn’t have been possible without Rodman.

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Dennis Rodman led the league in rebounding every year while he was in Chicago. He was usually doing the dirty work for the team. And surprisingly, his eccentric off-court behavior didn’t seem to affect the team’s performance whatsoever.

WATCH THIS STORY: 10 things Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman can’t live without

The Chicago Bulls set the record for the best regular season, which was later broken by the Golden State Warriors in 2015-16. The Chicago Bulls is one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the game, and Dennis Rodman was a major reason why.