BJ Armstrong explains what made Dennis Rodman the "first real entertainer" in NBA history

Without a shadow of a doubt, Dennis Rodman was one of the most eccentric players ever to walk the hardwood in the Association. From the days he married himself to his ever-changing hair colors, flamboyant outfits, and fearless attitude, Rodman was undeniably one of a kind. Everyone who ever crossed paths with him seems to say the same thing.

When BJ Armstrong was on the Chicago Bulls, he saw firsthand that Rodman wasn't just a Hall of Fame talent; he was the real entertainment in the business.

"I know he understood exactly what he was doing. I knew he understood the business…Dennis was one of the first players to really, you really got a chance to see the entertainment side of the NBA," Armstrong said in his recent appearance on "Maybe I'm Crazy Podcast."

The Worm's resume speaks for itself

Rodman's basketball credentials speak for themselves: two-time All-Star, five-time NBA champion, eight-time All-Defensive, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Having a teammate like The Worm meant you always had someone you could count on when the push came to shove.

But unlike most of his peers, who presented themselves publicly with calm professionalism, eating right, resting properly and hitting the gym, Dennis operated on a completely different wavelength. He refused to wear a mask. He refused to play by the unwritten "NBA star code." And because of that, people loved him. He didn't just set rebounding records; he set trends.

"These NBA players they were always, they had to eat right, they had to get their proper rest and they worked out in the gym. And that was the narrative. Suddenly, Dennis comes, he's got hair purple, he's got his fingernails painted…" the retired point guard added.

Rodman redefined what it meant to be a professional in basketball. He proved you could dominate under the rim, crash the glass, guard the best big men in the league, while still showing up looking like no one else dared.

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Butting heads with authority

Sure, he might have given coaches and teammates a fair share of headaches when he decided to take time off in the middle of a season. Look no further than his relationship with Phil Jackson and someone like Michael Jordan. They knew he was labeled a "troublemaker," but they wanted him by his side badly. Because when he stepped on the court, it was all business. The Worm stayed true to himself and didn't fake it one bit.

I mean, he wasn't called "Dennis the Menace" for nothing.

Even though the former commissioner didn't like it, nor was he overly thrilled with how Rodman behaved, The Worm kept doing things his way. Keeping a close tab on the situation, the late commissioner David Stern was far from happy with how the media portrayed Rodman, especially considering he represented the NBA brand.

But at the end of the day, none of that changed the truth — he was a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest rebounders the game has ever seen, and a player whose name can still be heard about some of the craziest basketball stories ever.

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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.