Will We Ever See a Rodman 2.0?

Pete Treperinas by Scribe Written on November 18, 2008
Rodmann_feature

 

In the ‘90s, there was no badder man than Dennis Rodman. He had rainbow streaks in his hair, pierced his nose, and he even would wear a dress if he felt like it.

But since his departure from the league in 2000, we haven't seen a personality quite like his. Below is a list of candidates who could potentially be the next Rodman.

Robert Swift, Oklahoma City Thunder. 

When the Seattle Sonics drafted Swift out of high school in the early first round of the draft a few years ago, he looked like a skinny 7-footer who was timid and had a mild acne problem.

Nate McMillan didn't play him much in his rookie year, and he was injured in the beginning of his second season. This is where the transformation began—eyebrow piercing, tons of tattoos, and no haircut. 

Now playing in OKC, Swift has one more addition to his appearance: his black nail polish. Since he's been on the bench so much in his career, it's kind of unknown whether or not he truly has a bad boy attitude.

Is he worthy of the title of Rodman 2.0, or is he just a white-boy from Bakersfield who wants to look "cool?”

Chris Andersen, Denver Nuggets.

Andersen is so bad that for a while he wasn't even allowed to be in the league. Banned for a few years due to substance abuse, Chris "The Birdman" Andersen is well-known for his dunks, tattoos, and overall image. 

A couple of months ago, there was an article on ESPN that talked about Andersen's early life and the struggles that both his mother and Anderson went through. I respect the guy for getting back to the NBA after being expelled for drug use that the NBA has not disclosed. 

Like Swift, Andersen has a lot of tattoos, and it seems as if he doesn't really care what the general public thinks about him. This alone makes him eligible to be Rodman 2.0.

Matt Barnes, Phoenix Suns. 

Like Rodman (and fellow 2.0 candidates), Barnes likes the ink. He's been suspended several times in his career with the most recent in a game against the Rockets for fighting. Something about Matt Barnes just gives off that bad boy vibe.

He clearly cannot stay put in one spot either. Barnes has had stints in Sacramento, Los Angeles (with the Clippers), Philly, New York, Golden State, and this season he's in Phoenix. If Barnes is going to earn this title, it's going to take a few more seasons, a few more suspensions, and definitely more tattoos.

Ron Artest, Houston Rockets.

The reason I wanted to include Ron Artest on this list is because he and Rodman play a little alike. Rodman could've been the best at grabbing rebounds ever, and Artest is also a great defensive player.

I can't think of another NBA player who has had more crazy antics and suspensions since the departure of Rodman. We'll never forget the brawl in Mo-Town, the shoving of a camera man, and numerous other suspensions issued to Artest. 

I think that you can make a comparison to Rodman and Artest in that you never know what's going to come next with them. The only big difference I see is the physical appearance of them, and the fact that Rodman was more of a pop culture icon while Artest is just scary as hell. 

Vote Now! - Author Poll

Which current NBA player is most similar to Rodman?

  • Robert Swift
  • Matt Barnes
  • Chris Andersen
  • Ron Artest
vote to see results
Results - Author Poll

Which current NBA player is most similar to Rodman?

  • Robert Swift

    0.0%
  • Matt Barnes

    8.3%
  • Chris Andersen

    50.0%
  • Ron Artest

    41.7%
  • Total votes: 12
(0)
...
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written on November 18, 2008 Opinion

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