Dennis Rodman was one of the most unique characters in the NBA. His eccentric personality created a large fanbase. However, his impact on the basketball court made him great. Mastering the art of rebounding, his name was etched into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

However, while the Worm goes down as one of the greatest players on the court, his life as a father has been rough. Notably, Rodman grew up without a father. After a 42-year gap, he met his birth father for the first time. While the meeting was short, Rodman’s character stood out.

But it still left a void in his life. During an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show, Rodman explained his difficulties in being a father. Moreover, he also spoke about his mother’s influence on his character.

Dennis Rodman and his father’s struggles

Growing up without a father, Rodman had only his mother, Shirley to look up to. During the interview, the Chicago Bulls legend revealed he didn’t know how to be a father. Despite knowing how to handle kids, he didn’t know how to express his feelings for his children. And much of it came from what Rodman took away from his mother.

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While talking about his own father, he said,

Rodman further added: “I always tell people, especially girls, I say, ‘I don’t know how to be a father, but I know how to handle kids'”. He continued, “My last wife said, ‘Oh my god you don’t want to hug your kids. You don’t have no interest in them.’ I said, ‘Yes I did, I just don’t know how to show it’. My mother said, ‘You know, I would never hug my kids’. She never did, she never hugged us, never kissed us nothing. I’m the same way I guess.” 

Notably, during an emotional HOF speech, Rodman shared his regret of not being a good father.

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In 2017, he attempted to become closer to his children. He even shared videos of them during quarantine and has taken a much more active role in their lives. For the Worm, it was a simple decision, he wanted to see his kids grow up. Leaving all the party life behind, Dennis Rodman is all focused on mastering his role as a father.