Chicago Bulls star forward Dennis Rodman didn’t initially match up with Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone in the 1997 NBA Finals. Though Rodman had proven he could co-exist with his new teammates the previous season, the Mail Man was a different beast.
He was strong, smart, and hungry for his first title. Bulls head coach Phil Jackson didn’t want to risk putting Rodman on Malone, especially given how unpredictable the Worm could be.
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Slowly and surely, Rodman proved he was in the right headspace in the 1997 NBA Finals. He crashed the boards, played defense with all his heart, and diligently played within the triangle offense. By Game 4, the Zen Master informed Rodman that he would match up against Malone for the first time in the series.
Hyped
The Worm did not take the good news sitting down. He was hyped and was more gregarious than usual. Dennis knew he had to put his best foot forward against one of the best power forwards in history.
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Not only did he promise to be in control, but the two-time Defensive Player of the Year shared his goal of achieving mental clarity before facing Malone. He also sought a guardian who would tell him to shape up if things were going astray.
“I got to be Dennis Rodman,” Rodman said in 1997, via the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve got to get out there and be wild and crazy and do the nutty things that got me in this position right now. I’m tired of being the mild-mannered man on the floor. I just can’t see taking the floor without being crazy.”
“I need to go rent a bike and ride in the hills and try to find God or somebody,” Rodman added. “Try to find somebody that’s going to get me, try to find Dennis Rodman somewhere in the state of Utah. If anybody sees Dennis Rodman in Crowbar [a Chicago club], tell him to bring his [butt] to Utah.”
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Confused
Some Bulls players were confused by Rodman’s declaration to turn things up a notch, especially that late in the season. Still, they didn’t mind Dennis’ antics. As long as Rodman was at his best, the players knew the team would be impossible to defeat.
There was another theory behind the former Bad Boy’s renaissance. His contract was up in a matter of days, and so Rodman was trying to show off to the Bulls’ front office. He wanted to remain in Chicago. He found a home alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He felt accepted by the squad despite his shortcomings and wacky behavior. Jackson believed this assumption was possible.
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“I’m going to have to ask him that,” Jackson said. “That’s a good question. I don’t know why he’d do that all of the sudden after he’s shown us his true character for 195 days. But that might be it. It might be a decent theory.”
Everything worked out for Dennis in the end. Phil fully entrusted him to go toe-to-toe with Malone the entire 1997 NBA Finals. The Bulls snagged another chip, and over the summer, Rodman inked a one-year, $4.6 million deal to stay in Chicago.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.