NBA rivalries make up the very fabric of the Association and have been ingrained into the culture of the league from its very early decades. While the rivalries of the 60s and 70s rightfully had their place among the bitterness between players, the 80s and 90s really took it to another level—ramped up by players like Charles Oakley and Dennis Rodman.
Oakley and Rodman locked horns on many occasions during their careers, with controversy always just around the corner. Although the battles were always heated, Oakley always admired what Rodman could do on the floor and gave his respect when sitting down for an interview with VladTV.
"Rodman could play basketball; I would give him that. I think he brought a lot of other stuff to the court. I played defense, offense whatever it took that night. He did a lot, night in and night out he played with a lot of energy. He could rebound and act crazy. That was him, and I had a different approach. I could probably shoot better, jump shots, free throws. He was a problem, especially since he played hard and played with energy. He would kill you every night because he had that every night. But he knew who wore the dress and who wore the pants," he said .
Rodman was different
There's no hiding that Rodman was perhaps the most eccentric character to ever step foot in the league. That said, his off-the-court drama and extravagant lifestyle were often overshadowed by his outstanding play on the court.
Rodman started off slow but grew into one of the greatest rebounders in league history and arguably the greatest individual defender in NBA history. A seven-time rebounding champion, two-time All-Star, and five-time NBA champion, "The Worm" carved out an outstanding career for himself when his upward trajectory seemed unlikely due to his off-the-court interests.
Through it all, he most importantly earned the respect of his peers during a time when rivalries often clouded the judgment of others, and Oakley's stamp of approval was a big one.
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Business is business
Don't get it twisted, however; Oakley's nod to Rodman's ability in no way, shape, or form took away from their battles on the floor. They went at each other's throats and were unapologetic about it. The duo matched up 59 times in total, 39 matchups in the regular season and 20 head-to-heads in the playoffs.
Unfortunately for Oakley , Rodman was part of the greatest dynasty in league history, securing 36 wins, including 14 in the postseason. Oakley did have the upper hand from a numbers perspective, but there's no doubt he would have traded in those stats for a chance at taking down the Bulls dynasty.
In the end, I guess Oakley uses those numbers as his argument for wearing the pants while believing Rodman wore the dresses.
Related: "He could barely play" - Dennis Rodman said Isiah Thomas should've replaced Larry Bird on the Dream Team
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