KEY POINTS

  • Dennis Rodman opens up about his botched move to the Miami Heat in 1999
  • Rodman bares that Pat Riley thought he's the worst person in the NBA
  • The NBA Hall of Famer is surprised to have made it to 60 years old

For Dennis Rodman, he was not the worst person in the NBA during his time.

In a time when NBA players were much more physical and a bit brutal, Rodman stood out among the rest.

Being a member of the infamous Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” squad in the 80s and early 90s, Rodman carried his fearsome persona throughout his entire NBA career.

In the process, “Worm” saw himself suspended numerous times, having been constantly involved in several game dust-ups.

This has led to his potential move to the Miami Heat in the post-Michael Jordan NBA era being botched.

According to Rodman, his troublesome image had then-Heat coach Pat Riley backing out in signing him.

However, he is certain he had seen a lot of players who were “way worse” than him, particularly the former Heat players who often engaged in in-game fights.

“Pat Riley is too cool,” Rodman told 7Sports News. “He is too cool for cool. You know, a lot of teams wanted me in 1999 because I still had some gas in the tank. Pat got too much pride. He has way too much pride. He said, ‘Oh Dennis is too much for us, we can’t handle him.'”

“If you can’t handle me, how did you handle other people that played for Miami? There were a lot more people that were way worse than me. I’m a winner, brother. I’ve been a winner for a long damn time. I earned that spot so I wish he would have pulled that trigger.”

Dennis Rodman
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman is planning to launch a topless women's basketball team. REUTERS

Rodman’s troubles soon took a toll on his personal life. An array of negative thoughts led to many in his circle thinking he wouldn’t have made it past “40.”

“I’m surprised I’m still here because a lot of people thought I would be dead at 40, 45, 50, 55, and I turned 60 and I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m still here,’” he said. “I said, ‘Someone has a hand on my shoulder saying you have a lot left to fulfill something for people around the world.'”

The countless tattoos, dyed hair, and piercings all over the face certainly made Rodman the most radical player of his generation.

However, times have changed and the things that made Rodman different certainly became quite a norm in today’s NBA.

“I would be accepted now,” the NBA Hall of Famer said in 2019. “I wouldn’t be as flamboyant now as I was then. I would be one of many.”

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