Fearing a Threat to His Life, Dennis Rodman Took Drastic Measures Just to Fulfil 1 Person’s NBA Fantasies: “Needed to Stop Partying”

Published 02/12/2023, 4:30 PM EST

The thought about the name Dennis Rodman often brings up a wild persona. The five-time champion was a character the NBA or even the fans had never come across. Off the court, controversies seemed to be a regular for him. Moreover, the Hall of Famer even missed games to take mini vacations while on the Chicago Bulls. However, when it came time to battle, he would switch and become The Worm. A fearless competitor, Rodman looked far from a defiant man. Unfortunately, while his active and late-night lifestyle got him closer to the fans, it drove him further away from family. Several years into his retirement, the two-time DPOY decided to sacrifice a part of himself just for one person.

Rodman’s fierce competitive instinct and winning mentality gave him a seat in the Hall of Fame. However, the legend on the basketball court was arguably not an ideal father. In front of several of his NBA peers, Rodman broke down apologizing for not being able to fulfill his duties to his children. His party binge lasted years after his NBA life, making it hard for him to find time for his own children. In a 2019 interview with ESPN, he wiped off tears and vowed to be better.

Likewise, he lived up to his words. His son, Dennis Rodman Jr. also shared a similar passion for basketball. With an NBA dream in front, The Worm left behind his old life to watch all of his children grow up.

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Dennis Rodman wants to do everything for his son to fulfill his NBA dream

In 2018, Dennis Rodman got together with PageSix for an interview. During the session, the five-time champion opened up about wanting to see his kids grow up. Notably, that year in January, he got into trouble with the law. Rodman was busted for DUI and went for treatment in New Jersey. Getting a chance to connect with his emotions and getting help, his mindset completely changed.

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While speaking to PageSix, Dennis Rodman said, “I want to see my kids grow up. I just needed to stop partying, take a step back and get my life back in order.” In the same interview, he spoke about his son, DJ Rodman. The Worm said, “Now I am getting up in age, so I felt it was time to step back and to re-evaluate my life. Like seeing my son, D.J., who is a high-school basketball star, play for the NBA.”

Rodman’s son played college basketball for the Washington State Cougars. While he has the same dream as his father, their games couldn’t be any different. The 21-year-old trained his jump shot to be his most lethal weapon. In his sophomore year, D.J. Rodman led the Cougars in three-point shooting converting at 41%. In his final year, he led the team in offensive rating at an astounding 118.6.

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While he has a solid foundation, Rodman still has a lot of work to do to make his NBA dream come true. There is arguably space to improve his tenacity and defensive impact. It seems he himself is aware of his potential as he skipped declaring for the 2021 NBA draft. With Dennis Rodman who is probably one of the best defensive players in history by his side, do you think we will see another Worm in the NBA? Let us know your views 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.

Fearing a Threat to His Life, Dennis Rodman Took Drastic Measures Just to Fulfil 1 Person’s NBA Fantasies: “Needed to Stop Partying”

Dennis Rodman wants to do everything for his son to fulfill his NBA dream

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