The Chicago Bulls entered the 1996 NBA Finals with only one playoff loss—the New York Knicks beat them in Game 3 of their second-round matchup. Coming off a historic 72-10 regular season, they were looking to sweep the Seattle SuperSonics in the championship series and cap off their historic run with another record-breaking feat.
Three games into the series, Michael Jordan and Co. found themselves one win away from securing the best playoff run in NBA history since the 16-team bracket was introduced. The Sonics, however, had other plans, beating Chicago 107-86 to cut the series deficit to 3-1.
Things got even worse for the Bulls after Seattle defeated them 89-78 in Game 5. At that point, tying their best postseason run from 1991 was no longer on the table. As a result, everyone on the team focused on beating the SuperSonics in Game 6 and securing their fourth championship in six years.
Still, it was disappointing not to be able to follow up the greatest regular season ever with the greatest playoff run ever. Not for Dennis Rodman , though.
"I just want to win, get it over with and go on vacation," the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year said after the Bulls' Game 4 loss in the Finals.
Rodman deserved more credit
Chicago managed to beat Seattle 87-75 in Game 6, with Michael Jordan winning the Finals MVP award—he averaged 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per contest.
But while most felt that "His Airness" was the difference maker in that series, the Sonics' forward Shawn Kemp had a different opinion . Instead, the 6'10" highflyer singled out "The Worm" as the biggest reason his team lost to the Bulls.
"We had no answer for his a*s, man. Every time that they needed a second shot, something special, extra rebound, or tip-in, this mother****** was flying and winking and kissing and frustrating everybody on the team. Dennis is not even like that; he just do that s***. He had my team just flustered," Kemp said .
Related: Michael Jordan questioned Tex Winter's competence regarding the triangle: "What has Tex ever won, anyway?"
MJ's praise for Dennis in 1996
While Shawn mentioned Rodman as the X-factor in the 1996 Finals, according to Phil Jackson, MJ himself said Dennis deserved more credit for Chicago's historic 1995-96 season, which kicked off their second three-peat in eight years.
"The season we got Dennis, we recorded the best record in NBA history. It tells you a lot about his impact. The year (Scottie) Pippen sat out the first three months after an operation, Michael told me he felt Dennis was the MVP of that team," Jackson stated .
For all his antics on and off the court, Rodman was always all in on winning. So, even though he didn't care about breaking records, he played a significant role in the Bulls' 1996 championship win. The same was the case in their title runs in 1997 and 1998.
Related: "That is the only thing that would make my life worthwhile" - When Dennis Rodman revealed his biggest individual career goal
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