In his prime, Dennis Rodman was undoubtedly a player NBA teams would have loved to have on their roster. "The Worm" focused on defense and rebounding, which teams needed to back up their offensive-minded star players.
Rodman did just that during his time with the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. However, Rodzilla's publicity stemming from his uncanny behavior came along with that.
After winning his last NBA title with the Bulls, Dennis was looking to continue his pro basketball run with other teams. He brought that to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks in 1999 and 2000 respectively. But somehow, it appeared the two-time Defensive Player of the Year's efficiency had declined.
Unable to last with an NBA team, Rodman would try his luck in other leagues such as the American Basketball Association, the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Professional, and the British Basketball League. Regardless, this did not overshadow the desire of the former second-overall pick to make a return to the NBA.
Rodman's bold belief
Despite already being 44 years old, Rodman felt he still had what it took to play in the NBA. He was confident he could still whip himself into shape and keep up with the top stars in the league at the time. Dennis relayed that bold statement after making guest appearances in the British Basketball League in 2006.
" If I worked out consistently for a month, I think I can go back and play," the five-time NBA champion said to The Guardian via UPI . "I think my body is in good shape, I just need to go out there and get the fundamentals."
However, various factors were working against "The Worm." When he made those remarks, it had already been six years since his last NBA stint. Further, his age would likely drive away NBA teams as most would prefer to invest in young talent who could defend, rebound, and contribute to scoring.
On top of all that, another thing that teams would be wary about was Rodman creating chaos. Rodman was notorious for causing problems. One instance was when he was with the Spurs and bashed head coach Gregg Popovich in front of the whole team. Doc Rivers recalled that moment, detailing how that act sent the locker room into turmoil.
"It was brutal, what Pop said back to Dennis. Then Avery gets involved. Then Dennis Rodman. I mean, then David gets involved. Terry Cumming gets involved, " the champion coach recalled when he spoke on "The Bill Simmons" podcast .
Rodman never realized that dream of returning to the NBA. Despite his talent, off-the-court problems and creating disharmony were something NBA teams were not ready to gamble on.
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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