When it comes to unpacking the relationship between Dennis Rodman and former NBA commissioner David Stern, it would possibly be close to Pandora’s box. Both of them had locked horns several times and remained that way for a very long time. Their differences in opinions and lifestyles often clashed in a grand public fashion.

Dennis Rodman, who donned the Dallas Mavericks jersey at the time, was asked to leave the 2000 game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Davis Stern suspended him for one game and fined him $10,000 too after he was ejected from the game.

“I Don’t Give a F**k if I Play Here or Not”: Dennis Rodman Dismissed 13x NBA Champion Before ‘Most Incredible 3 Years’ of His Life

Rodman strongly believed that the punishment stemmed from a personal vendetta. He then went on to challenge the commissioner to a boxing match. He wanted to settle the score with Stern and clear their differences. “Me and David Stern need to clear our differences. Like I said last night, let’s get into the ring. He gets naked, I get naked, and let’s go in and get it on, brother”. 

The NBA champion added that he felt he was being “singled out” by Stern. “I don’t know why all this focus is on me. I’m a competitor. I want my team to win and, yes, I got upset,” the five-time NBA champion said.

David Stern also kicked him out from the Dallas Mavericks‘ guest house, citing salary cap violations.

It was an ongoing feud that Dennis Rodman faced

Once, he chided Rodman for his many tattoos. In fact, Stern once wanted to do away with the bad-boy image Rodman displayed in the NBA. He specifically came to Dennis Rodman and threatened to kick the player out of the league for having too many tattoos. Stern demanded that Rodman should not get any more tattoos.

Dennis Rodman, unsurprisingly, couldn’t give two hoots about it. He got a tattoo that night and disobeyed David Stern. Rodman’s response was typical and classic Dennis Rodman.

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In the end, Stern didn’t oust him from the league, but he didn’t let go of Dennis Rodman either. Whatever Rodman did was arguably put under his microscope. Stern, who was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2014,  got another chance to suspend Rodman after he head-butted a referee.

Rodman claimed that he had to serve his suspension owing to the commissioner’s bias.

Even his preferred number on the jersey was not approved by David Stern. He wanted the number 69 on his back while playing for the Mavericks. He eventually settled on 70.

David Stern also publicly bashed Dennis Rodman in 2014 for his relationship with Kim Jong Un. A disapproving commissioner said, “Dennis will be Dennis”.

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What did you think of the relationship between Dennis Rodman and David Stern? Let us know in the comments below.