Dennis Rodman’s name will always be associated with elite defense, relentless rebounding, and the willingness to do the dirty work. How so? Well, the man had around 11,954 rebounds to his name in an over 14-year-long career. What’s interesting is, his rebound number is higher than his combined total of his points, assists, steals, and blocks! He was a typical example of someone who didn’t need to score to leave his mark on the game. However, despite his impressive stats, his life off the court was riddled with struggles, and some untold!

Later in life, those struggles began to surface more publicly. Rodman battled alcohol addiction and faced legal trouble multiple times. He admitted that he often used drinking as an escape. “It’s up to me if I want to do it for the rest of my life,” he once said. His personal relationships, especially with his children, became strained. Still, Rodman never stopped fighting, going to rehab multiple times. He later claimed that he had things under control as he started to rebuild relationships.

This week, the Hall of Famer turned 64. Fans showed love online, but one Instagram post stood out. “Happy 64th birthday, Dennis Rodman! 🎉” it read. The post revealed an interesting detail regarding Rodman’s ritual from his days in the NBA, which is somehow still not very well known. The ritual it revealed was that during the ‘90s, whenever Rodman played in Boston, he secretly bought out Toys-R-Us and donated everything to a children’s hospital. No media, no recognition, just a quiet act of kindness that stayed hidden until now.

It makes you wonder, what made Rodman do that? Maybe it traces back to a childhood full of absence. His father who remained distant, and his mother worked nonstop. He didn’t grow up with much, emotionally or financially. In his own words, “I wasn’t trying to get attention. I needed help at the time, I didn’t want to go on. I thought that I was abandoned.” Perhaps giving to those kids was his way of giving something he never had. Behind the tattoos and headlines was someone who understood what it meant to feel forgotten, and didn’t want others to feel the same.

Dennis Rodman built a legacy on rebounds, wild antics, and being unapologetically himself—but not everything made headlines. A recent birthday tribute uncovered a forgotten ritual: quietly donating entire toy store hauls to kids’ hospitals during his playing days. Turns out, the NBA’s most unpredictable star may have had the softest heart all along, but beyond the heart, lies a character that’s never out of fun.

Dennis Rodman’s joke about death rumors shows he’s still the King of surprises

Dennis Rodman, always known for his eccentric behavior, found himself at the center of an unsettling rumor last month: news of his death. The internet exploded with claims that the NBA icon had tragically passed away due to a bizarre incident. A Facebook page, Memerunnergpt, even posted an April Fools’ prank announcing Rodman’s ‘death,’ sending fans into a frenzy. They stated the reason for his passing to be “autoerotic asphyxiation accident.” As expected, it didn’t take long for ‘The Worm’ to set the record straight.

Rodman didn’t miss the opportunity and swiftly responded with sarcasm. He took to Facebook, posting a photo of himself giving a thumbs-up with the caption, “Yesss Sirr Alive and Well 👍🏾 What’s up #alive #imhere.” His fans, undoubtedly relieved, couldn’t help but be angry at the insensitive joke.

Although Rodman didn’t seem to mind the joke at the time, he didn’t miss the opportunity to recall it as his birthday came around. Even on his 64th birthday, he wasn’t taking life too seriously. His post read, “Another Year to be Alive and Well 🙏🏾 Happy Birthday to Me,” showing that he’s still able to laugh at the absurd situation. And instead of a traditional birthday cake, he celebrated with a mountain of ice cream, cupcakes, and cones.

Fans can breathe easy now, knowing that Rodman is alive and well, and it’s clear that nothing, no matter how bizarre, can truly keep him down. The man who turned the basketball world upside down is still doing it, one surprise at a time.