This is the second part of a five part series as I unveil an all-time starting line-up of NBA Villains.
People today think Rasheed Wallace is crazy, but he looks like a saint compared to the one and only Dennis Rodman.
It’s no surprise that another “Bad Boy” Piston made it onto this list, but Rodman’s villain career didn’t really take-off until he left the Pistons.
“The Worm” was relatively calm until he started dating the “Material Girl” as a San Antonio Spur. Madonna introduced him to the world of piercings, tattoos, and outrageous hairstyles and turned Rodman into a highly entertaining act.
But Rodman’s off the court antics would escalate into another level when he joined the Bulls where he achieved his greatest success and notoriety.
Jordan and Co. did their best to keep Dennis in-line, but even the greatest player ever couldn’t stop Dennis from being himself.
Before Zidane’s head-butt heard-around-the-world, Dennis launched an infamous head-butt into NBA ref Ted Bernhardt. Bernhardt must have said something vicious about Rodman’s then-girlfriend Carmen Electra, but unfortunately league officials didn’t see it that way.
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In ’97, a sideline photographer’s camera tripped Rodman, causing him to sprain his ankle. Rodman, understandably upset, tried to kick the camera, but missed and accidentally might have hit the photographer near the family jewels.
The photographer, Eugene Amos, seized the opportunity for a lawsuit, and put on a delayed Oscar-worthy performance that included being carried out on a stretcher. It earned Rodman an 11-game suspension and he had to pay Amos, $200,000 in a settlement.
It wasn’t just the on-court incidents that led to Rodman’s legacy, off the court his escapades included staging a fake wedding to himself, dressing up in drag at various events, and flying to Vegas before NBA finals. All this made Rodman the antithesis of David Stern's vision of an NBA player.
Looking past all the antics, no one can deny Rodman’s place in NBA history as one of the best, if not the best rebounder in NBA history and one of the greatest defensive players ever.
He led the league in RPG for a record seven straight years, was a 7-time NBA All-Defensive First team selection, and was an integral part of five championship teams.
But Dennis was a true villain because of his uncanny ability to get under the skin of his opponents, which included Shawn Kemp, Shaquille O’Neal, and my favorite, driving Karl Malone insane in consecutive NBA Finals. Malone and Rodman took their mutual hatred all the way to the wrestling ring, an all-time classic tv moment.
A two-time Defensive Player of the year, he had the versatility to guard Jordan in the 80’s and Shaq in the 90’s. Rodman definitely had fun off the court, but he always came to play come game time. His hustle and playful nature made him a fan-favorite for any team he played for.
Few things are definite in life, but there truly will never be another player like the Dennis Rodman in NBA history.
Next: SF, Ron Artest
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2 months ago
His real villainy was making Double Team. Just sayin'
from 2 months ago
Ya..i cant believe i forgot about Double Team..just an atrocious movie..but a classic at the same time
2 months ago
I'll disagree here. Rodman is simply not important enough to be considered the best of anything in NBA history. These are just new day people pf the ESPN era you're listing. For a real fury of a villain at Power Forward let's look back at the past 60 years of the NBA and get some real heavies. I'll take at #3 Lucsious Jacksom, the terrifying partner of Wilt Chamberlain during the 76er heydays. A mere imp of a man at 6-9 275, Big Luke led his Pan American team to the 1963 small college championship in Kansas City, destroying Western Carolina in the finals with a 25 point 24 rebound performance. Luke played center before Wilt arrived and his duels with Willis Reed are memorable. Remember, Reed played power forward in the beginning of his career as the Knicks' Center was the Hoosier Terror Walt Bellamy. For #2 alltime we need to look at Vern "The Man" Mikkelson. Although Vern had great talent and was the pefect compliment to the fearsome Mikan for the Lakers, his shin kicks, knee knocks, trips, and eyelash pulling are what separate him from the toy villains of the past 25 years. He wasn't known more for what he did off the court, he was feared and respected because of what he did on the court. The #1 alltime villain at power forward in NBA history is undoubtedly Kermit Washington. This 6-8 250 destroyer was there for one thing, deal out punishment to anyone who tried to mess with Jabbar. In fact, he nearly killed Rudy Tomjanovich by separating his brain from his head with one punch. No, Kermit Washington is far, far more of a villain than any peanut like Rodman.
We must toss out bouquets of honorbale mention to Bill Bridges, Tom Meschery, and my own personal favorite "Bad News" Barnes. All of these folks had to enter arenas with their faces covered they were so hated, and feared, for their antics at Power Forward.
Don't confuse Pop Culture history, current articles and TV shows with what really happened. There's a whole big world of 60 years of NBA. You must guard against your list becoming a "Pop Villain" list of only the past 20 years or so.
Keep up the good work at I look forward to commenting on whomever your choice for small forward is.
from 2 months ago
...and I'll disagree with you-Clearly you don't know anything about Dennis Rodman or his career. Yes, though he at times was a little "out-there", he is the greatest rebounder of all time(career). You probably don't think Michael Jordan was the all around greatest player to ever play the game either. Who by the way was quoted numerous times as saying..."Dennis Rodman has more knowledge of the game than most people think, he is court-wise one of the hardest working/playing AND one of the smartest people on defense he has ever played with. For his size at the position he played and the WAY he played, with ferocity- one of the best on defense the game has ever seen." So even though his hobbies were questionable at times and his antics on the court with say... not always knowing when to shut up. I bet David Stern would even tell you that D-Rod and his passion for the game were unmatched. Though he wasn't one of big Dave's favorite people. He did have an importance on the league...Oh yeah, and How about the crazy amount of ticket sales teams saw when he made debuts for both the Lakers and Mavericks-they were sold out. People loved to watch this guy even if he didn't stay long. You never knew if he was going to rip down 28 boards or go nuts for no real reason, and I bet you tuned in at least once yourself, just to see if anything went down. You might not think he was important, but no one EVER in NBA history was like the guy. Just a few unique qualities- only person to have wicked hair styles/colors, first guy to be covered with tattoos, a guy that on defense every team wished they had at the time...look what he started. Not to mention his presence alone on the court terrified the opposition and threw people out of "their" game like it was nothing. Just look at the numerous guys trying to play the way he did in the post now a days. Your nuts man...did you even watch the NBA when it was with D-Rod and the BULLS remember that DYNASTY he helped win THREE titles for? For a total of SIX for himself along with being 7-time Rebounding KING. Are you crazy???
from 2 months ago
First of all, Kermit Washington was said to have a good reputation, and he was haunted by that punch for the rest of his life. Sorry, one accidental blind punch, doesn't make him an all-time villain. You say Rodman wasn't important enought, Kermit Washington was an average player at best, who is infamous for nothing but that punch!
As J pointed out already, Rodman was the best rebounder in NBA history. The Bulls wouldn't have won those last three championships without him, and that makes him pretty important. Who would have guarded Shaq, Shawn Kemp, or Karl Malone....Luc Longley?
You say Rodman and Jordan played in an era of diluted NBA. They played in the era in which the NBA was at its peak, in the 80's and early 90's. Many of the guys you listed played in an era where Wilt Chamberlain dominated because he was simply bigger than everbody.
Clearly this is a subjective list of players, written just for fun, and I have no problem with your disagreements or your picks, infact I encourage it. But do not simply dismiss my generation of fans as self-absorbed generation who know nothing about the NBA. I respect your vast knowlege of the entire history of the NBA and your insight, but at the same time, we're all knowledgeable fans here, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
2 months ago
Rodman is unimportant in the history of the NBA. Jordan and Rodman played in a diluted too many team NBA era. Neither is the best at anything except to children who grew up during that self absorbed generation.
from 2 months ago
You're an idiot! who clearly doesn't know his a** from a hole in the ground. So I guess every team now days is too, 'cuz there are more teams now than there were then and have ever been-they're even talking about adding more. AND I'm sure that's only why the BULLS have/had the best single season record of ANY one team that ever even played in the NBA or ABA 72-10(remember). To even mutter the garbage you came back with is ridiculous. Are you seriously saying that Jordan wasn't the best at anything?! That could be the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Every sports analyst would laugh at you in the face if you said that to them. You probably think he wasn't important either. The same guy who was and STILL is the most recognizable sports figure on the planet. Even if you didn't like Jordan- he was still the best ever and if you couldn't see it when he was still playing, then god help you 'cuz you're clueless. Jordan was that good because he also made everybody else around him that much better. Anyone who doesn't think so is simply not realistic. No ONE or ANY team ever took the title away from Jordan, he was never beaten by anyone. Something else you'd be a fool to not see like him or not is-the fact that there was NEVER anyone better than JORDAN in the clutch-STILL. The dinosaurs you're talking about (no one else even gives 2 sh**s about) couldn't even make the team in todays day and age or even 10 years ago- you must be on something or just bitter that Jordan and his BULLS likely discarded your team without breaking a sweat. What are you a JAZZ fan? They're about the only people who would have the same opinion that you do. Oh yeah, to assume I'm some "young kid" with this opinion is upsurd. You know nothing about me, I bet you I'm probably even older than you, ya' moron. I just appreciate talent, even if its not a guy on "my" team I can admit he's good-unlike you. You wouldn't know good basketball if it was happening in front of your face(there hasn't been any in about 10yrs anyway) that much is/was clearly obvious. Who do you think was the best player ever? Bill Walton?! Tim Duncan?! World B. Free?!(do you even know who that is?) Maybe even Karl Malone?! Kurt Rambis?! How about Shawn Kemp, did you think he was good too?! Or you might be one of those idiots who already thinks Lebron is the greatest thing ever-the choker, and I'm even FROM Clev. He has no clutch game what so ever. Hasn't even led the league in ANYTHING yet. I'm sure if numerous other people started in the NBA when they were 11 they'd have been the youngest to ever score what he has too. Other than that, Lebron hasn't done crap-except be humiliated in last years finals. I can't believe you are ACTUALLY serious? If you are, then you ARE a jacka**. Who quite frankly- is not worth my time. It's one thing to have an opinion, but you should at least know what you're talking about AND be able to back it up- to neither of which you can or qualify. GOOD DAY
2 months ago
Here is another so-called "bad boy", previously unmentioned. What's anybody think and remember about the X-man, Xavier McDaniel? He didn't do TOO bad in his stretch.
2 months ago
I like "Doctor X". Xavier led the nation in scoring and rebounding at the same time when he was at Wichita State. I see McDaniel as a star and certainly worthy of nomination to any listing of top forwards or top villains, particularly during the era in which he played. He is very much like Paul Silas, a man who also led the nation in rebounding when he was at Creighton.
Little trivia about X, he played with Tyrone Corbin (Asst Coach of the Jazz) in high school. Needless to say, they won the South Carolina state championship.
2 months ago
The statement that the NBA was at its peak in the 1980s and 90s is testimony to the self absorbed generation who believes only what they saw matters and that only their opinion matters A watered down group of too many teams with too few stars on each team so a team witrh a few stars dominated the weaker teams and that is what made some of the statistics of the 80s and 90s exaggerated. Rather, in the 60s there were only a handful of teams and many had legendary players. Chamberlain made his records while playing against Bill Russell every week, not playing teeney tot turn ons from far weaker and poorer franchises like the 80s and 90s players did. In order to provide an accurate list of alltime you must first have observed the alltime NBA of 60 years and secondly be totally objective as opposed to making subjective opinions like the 80s and 90s were best. As an alternative perhaps this list should be titled, "villains of your life time".
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