Dennis Rodman was featured on ESPN’s 30 for 30 this week. Fans always link him to the Pistons and the Bulls. But Rodman’s career circled around the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his career. You’ll never believe what happened when he was with the Lakers!
Let’s take a trip down memory lane, Los Angeles Lakers fans.
It’s been years since Bill Simmons and ESPN moved on from their working relationship after Simmons spoke out against Roger Goodell and the NFL (No, Jemele Hill was not first to do it.).
What may never move on is the legacy Simmons left that will live until the end of time. Many do not know that the 30 for 30 ESPN documentaries was his brainchild.
It’s episodes like Rodman: For Better or Worse, that reminds me of Bill Simmons and how one idea can turn into generational media jewels. A fan can’t watch this documentary without being shocked, saddened or amazed at how Dennis Rodman thrived in spite of his circumstances.
No check that, not thrived but survived.
The man is a psychologist’s dream and a psychiatrist’s nightmare. The former would revel in the study of his behavior and the latter would be frustrated to no limits trying to figure out why.
Most NBA fans will argue over who is the greatest player of all time, but there will be no debates on who was the most enigmatic. Dennis Rodman will leave planet Earth the undisputed king based on how he played on the court and the chaotic life he lived off of it.
The casual fan will always remember Dennis Rodman for his accomplishments during the championship runs with the Detroit “Bad Boy” Pistons and at the end of the ’80s and the second three-peat run with the Chicago Bulls.
Rodman’s two All-Star appearances along with back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards made him famous. By the time he was the third cog on the back-end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty, his off the court brand made him infamous.
According to the documentary, Rodman made a quote that might be controversial (Anybody shocked?), but looking back at the time with no social media may not be far from the truth.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1171467594206859266
What gets lost in Dennis Rodman’s career is that he played short stints with three other teams. In between the championship years, he played with San Antonio Spurs. After the dynasties, Rodman spent real short periods with the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers played a part in Rodman’s successes and were part of the Worm’s circus show as well.
Lake Show Life may not be able to measure up to his 30 for 30 documentary, but there are stories that link the Lakers to the length of Dennis Rodman’s career. Let’s take a look back at the Worm and the Lakers history.