Dennis Rodman‘s career was filled with extreme highs – from winning multiple NBA championships to memorable performances – and severe lows, including a suicide scare and various public scandals.
After he established himself as an eccentric individual, Worm’s off-court activities weren’t seen as chaotic anymore, but rather as controlled chaos due to Dennis’ need to blow off steam and expand his energy elsewhere.
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Famously, during his relationship with Carmen Electra, Rodman made headlines almost every day, not just for his play on the Chicago Bulls, but also for his escapades away from the hardwood.
Most notably, during the 1997-1998 season, Rodman was granted a 48-hour vacation from coach Phil Jackson after requesting a break from feeling overwhelmed and burnt out due to Scottie Pippen’s injury absence. In turn of events, Jackson would soon regret his decision.
“I had no idea Michael Jordan was freaking out”
As expected, Rodman turned his vacation into a full-on party frenzy, extending it to four days, instead of two. He brought Electra with him, where the two had the time of their lives, losing track of time. When Dennis failed to return to his team, a furious Michael Jordan arrived at his hotel door to literally “get his a–s out of bed.”
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“I had no idea of all the behind-the-scenes drama,” Electra said. “I had no idea Michael Jordan was freaking out. I was hungover, and we were naked on the floor. Dennis gets up to answer, and there’s Michael Jordan. I got up and tried to hide. I knew Dennis was in trouble. That was a big deal and a shock to me.”
After coming back to the team, it took some time for Rodman to get back in shape and adjust to his role as Pippen returned from his 35-game absence. However, Worm would end up playing 80 games that season, missing two games due to his Vegas trip.
Still, Dennis’ impact never left the team, as he led the league in rebounds with 15 per game at 36 years old, winning his seventh and last rebounding title, while also becoming the oldest player ever to lead the league in that statistical category.
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The Bulls overcame Rodman’s shenanigans
Despite the different personalities on their team, which could be hard to deal with, the Bulls remained true to their craft and won 62 games in the regular season. When the playoffs followed, the team remained focused and lost only six games throughout the 21-game postseason.
The Bulls went on to win their third straight championship, which was the sixth ring overall in the 1990s. During their final title run, Rodman’s impact was at its full capacity, playing in all 21 games, averaging 4.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
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Shortly after their final season together, the Bulls’ core would go their separate ways. Jordan retired for the second time, Pippen to the Houston Rockets, and Jackson left to take a break before taking over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rodman, however, joined the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks for two additional seasons of his career, where he played in 35 games total before deciding to hang up his jersey for good.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.