Ranking the top 50 players in NBA history…
49. Dennis Rodman
Is Rodman the most gifted rebounder in the history of the NBA? He certainly has an argument, and it was never about physical superiority for Rodman (he was 6-foot-7), but rather a hunger for the ball that was as wild and unforgettable as his personality.
Long before Rodman three-peated with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls of the late 1990s, he won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards with the Detroit Pistons (1989-1991) and helped them win two rings.
Despite never being a scoring threat (7.3 points per game for his career), Rodman’s defense, rebounding and overall value to winning were so immense, that he finished top-15 in MVP voting on four different occasions, including his first season in Chicago.
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Beyond the five championships and two DPOY nods, Rodman’s resumé is eye-opening. Seven-time NBA rebounding champion. Two-time All-NBA Third Team. Seven-time All-Defensive First Team.
Rodman was honored with inclusion on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team for good reason. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, the same year that he had his No. 10 Detroit Pistons uniform retired (what are the Bulls waiting for?).
Rodman is one of the most unique athletes in the history of American pro sports. He was far more than the exciting and sometimes controversial “Worm”, though. He was also the ultimate winner, playing a crucial role for two dynasties within the span of a single decade.
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