“Dennis is mentally handicapped” – Phil Jackson once revealed what people don’t understand about Dennis Rodman originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Dennis Rodman evidently lived his notorious bad boy lifestyle to the fullest during his time with the Chicago Bulls. By taking it to unprecedented heights, he often captured media attention, leading to a wave of criticism directed at Bulls head coach Phil Jackson. Many fans questioned Jackson’s coaching principles, particularly his approach to managing Rodman’s eccentric behavior and unpredictable antics.
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Naysayers argued that Jackson had failed to impose strict discipline on Rodman when he was supposed to. However, “The Zen Master” remained unfazed, stressing that the public was unaware of numerous nuances to Rodman’s personality.
He believed that understanding Rodman’s unique approach was crucial not just for himself as a player but for the overall success of the whole team. Instead of conforming to traditional coaching methods, Jackson adapted his strategies to suit Rodman’s special needs.
“People say I should be harsh with him, but they are ignorant,” Jackson said of coaching Rodman in a journal back in 1998. “If people don’t know by now that Dennis is mentally handicapped, what can I say?”
“I have diagnosed him, and I know he has a real problem with attention,” he explained. “I had 26 hours of graduate study in psychology, and I know what I know. The harder you discipline him, the worse it gets. You just alienate a guy who has alienation problems already. What you have to have is patience. You have to accept him and say, “Give me the best that you’ve got.”
Pearl Jam was good for Rodman
During his illustrious and wild NBA career, Rodman had the opportunity to meet a wide array of celebrities. He enjoyed partying with them and forged connections that impacted his character both on and off the court. Among the relationships he built with these public figures, one of the most notable was his bond with the legendary rock band Pearl Jam.
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In addressing how he coached “The Worm,” Jackson noted that he believed Rodman’s friendship with Pearl Jam was healthy. He noticed that Rodman’s association with the band enriched his personal life and played a crucial role in enhancing certain aspects of his career.
As an elite rebounder and defender, Rodman’s services were essential to the Bulls’ championship quests. Jackson saw Pearl Jam as a good influence on Rodman as a professional.
“I actually think that Eddie Vedder, the Pearl Jam singer who’s always hanging around with Dennis, is helpful for him,” the legendary coach assessed. “He parties with Dennis and stays out late, but he has actually talked Dennis into coming back and playing a lot of times. He relates to Dennis because he’s a performer.”
Phil said he was different from Rodman
During his playing years in the NBA, Jackson wasn’t the best player on the court. However, he was recognized for his physicality and competitive spirit. Because of those traits, some fans have drawn parallels between him and Rodman. While Jackson could see their point, he completely begged to differ and shut down the comparisons altogether.
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“Dennis needs to be in a corner to perform. He needs to be the bad boy,” Jackson said of Rodman as a player. “People think I was like him as a player, but I was not in any way similar. I was Action Jackson, but I wasn’t hyperactive.”
Jackson coached Rodman the right way
Former Bulls point guard Steve Kerr witnessed Jackson’s distinct mentorship style in handling Rodman. He once expressed deep admiration for Jackson’s ability to defy expectations, demonstrating a remarkable knack for connecting with a player known for his rebellious nature.
For Kerr, Jackson not only showcased his coaching prowess when he managed to get Rodman to buy into his philosophy, but he also exhibited an extensive understanding of the complexities of human behavior.
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“The way Phil coached Dennis was the key to everything,” Kerr once said, per All The Smoke Podcast. “It really informed me of what coaching was about. Because Phil demanded certain things from Dennis and got out of his way. I saw how powerful that was.”
“The idea of giving someone vision, and then letting them go and then occasionally reigning them back in show them the vision again, letting him go again, that’s powerful. To me that’s coaching these players are arduous they are so gifted at this level, especially. You know, if you’re going to call every play and try to orchestrate everything, you’re overthinking things and not letting players be who they really are. The way Phil coached Dennis was genius,” the Golden State Warriors coach further reflected.
Coach Jackson did a commendable job recognizing early on what leadership style worked for Rodman. By focusing on developing a positive environment that embraced Rodman’s individuality, “The Zen Master” was able to squeeze the best out of “The Worm.”
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.