The Detroit Pistons‘ “Bad Boys” were frontlined by the likes of Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, and Joe Dumars, but those squads had many contributing individuals from the shadows. One of the most important was Dennis Rodman.
A shy second-round pick, “The Worm” earned a place under the NBA sun, thanks in part to the guidance of Coach Chuck Daly, who knew how to utilize the energetic forward to the maximum. So, when the Pistons decided to get rid of Daly in 1992, it was no surprise that Rodman was heartbroken, to say the least.
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”It was like they got rid of my dad,” Dennis said. ”I couldn’t forgive them.”
The secret “Bad Boys” weapon
While Thomas handled the scoring load, Laimbeer manned the paint and played the enforcer role. However, Rodman was often tasked with stopping the best opposing players due to his versatility and ability to guard multiple positions. That skill earned Dennis a lot of praise around the NBA, winning two DPOY awards and being a huge part of two championships.
”He had no fear of guarding anybody; Bird, Jordan,’‘ said Daly.
In the 1991-1992 season, which turned out to be Chuck’s last at the helm of the Pistons, Rodman had arguably the best individual season of his career. Starting in 80 out of 82 games, “The Worm” averaged 9.8 points, 18.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on the way to his second All-Star appearance.
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However, the “Bad Boys” would get bounced out by the New York Knicks 3-2 in the first round, signaling the end of an era. Only a year after getting swept by their archrivals, the Chicago Bulls, it was apparent that Detroit was past its past days, and Coach Daly was the first victim.
Rodman stayed on the team, but losing Chuck messed him up. Dennis would spend one more season in Detroit, marred by off-court troubles, like his first divorce and custody battle, only adding to the mental overload from losing a father figure in Daly. Eventually, in the 1993 off-season, the 6’7″ forward got traded to the San Antonio Spurs, which ended up being the start of his eccentric era.
Related: “His dad’s been trying to get him out of here for a while” – Andre Iguodala says Klay Thompson’s dad had been asking his son to join the Lakers for years
Chuck knew how to get the best out of Dennis
For a player without a jumper or any particular basketball skill on a high level, Rodman managed to build an impressive career mainly due to playing to his strengths and knowing his role. Daly was always encouraging “The Worm” to trust his instincts and not overthink when on the floor.
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“He still screams, ‘Don’t think! Don’t think!’ at me when I start thinking too much, I mess up,” Rodman said. “When I just go out there and work my tail off, play my game, I play a whole lot better.”
Dennis would not click with another coach until he arrived to the Chicago Bulls and Phil Jackson. Under the “Zen Master”, the Southeastern Oklahoma State product would again find his niche and be placed in an ideal position to contribute to a championship squad.
“The Worm” was a complicated individual and limited player, but under the right mentor and voice, Rodman was the perfect complementary guy for building a winning team. Masterminds like Daly and Jackson knew that, as Dennis recognized the greatness of those two coaches and trusted them completely.
