After finally surpassing Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference during the 1980s, the Detroit Pistons became the media darlings of the NBA, winning back-to-back Championships with an ensemble of anti-heroes like Bill Laimbeer and future hall of famers like Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman. The latter not only served as the Pistons' enforcer and best on-ball defender, but he was also a bully and an irritant who played a key role in the team's post-season dominance over the biggest threat to their reign, the Chicago Bulls. Dennis Rodman was on the Detroit Pistons' roster when they eliminated Michael Jordan's Bulls from the Eastern Conference playoffs three years in a row, in 1988 (4-1), 1989 (4-2) and 1990 (4-3). Subsequently, the young Bulls swept the Pistons from the Eastern Conference Finals the following year. During the highly contested and extremely physical series, Dennis Rodman (the reigning Defensive Player of the Year) shoved Scottie Pippen to the ground and caused an injury that left a scar that remains on his chin to this very day.
In 1996, the unthinkable happened when Phil Jackson, head coach of the Chicago Bulls, convinced Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen that they should acquire their former rival, Dennis Rodman, to replace Horace Grant, who left the ballclub via free agency, one year prior. Upon joining the Bulls, Phil Jackson made Rodman apologize to Pippen for causing the injury that made him get six stitches in 1991. The end result of the Rodman acquisition was a record-breaking 72-10 season and a three-peat for arguably the most popular team in the history of professional sports in America. Today, Dennis Rodman's #10 jersey hangs in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. But on a global scale, he's primarily recognized for wearing the #91 jersey as a member of the Chicago Bulls. During his heyday with the team, his popularity rivaled Michael Jordan's. Back then, Dennis Rodman would sometimes take detours from the rigors of the NBA regular season to tickle his fancy as a pro wrestler (with the WCW) and an entertainer, much to the chagrin of his coaches and teammates.
On Saturday, "The Worm" hopped back into the squared circle as a celebrity guest for the pro wrestling promotion known as AEW (you can watch Rodman's return to the AEW here). The tour stop was in Chicago, where the Bulls social media team caught up with one of their greatest former players to reminisce about the place where he won three rings for the home team.
Scroll up and press play to hear "The Worm" talk about his old coach, Phil Jackson, and his favorite ex-teammates in Chicago, such as MJ, Scottie Pippen, and Steve Kerr. When you're done, click here for more.
Source: Instagram
