"This guy was an entertainer" - Ex-Bull REVEALS Dennis Rodman’s wild life 'took the pressure off Michael Jordan'

Dennis Rodman playing for the Chicago Bulls was an odd sight to behold. For one, he used to be a member of the Bulls 'nemesis, the Bad Boys Detroit Pistons, and two, his eccentric personality didn't seem to fit with a group of guys who were looking to reclaim their place on top of the basketball world.

But somehow, the marriage between Rodman and the Bulls worked. And according to former Bulls guard Randy Brown, who signed with the team the same day Dennis did and became his good buddy on the squad, the Bulls would not have accomplished a second three-peat minus "The Worm."

"This guy was an entertainer, like Michael and Scottie,"explained Brown. "I get asked all the time: How could Michael, Scottie and Phil let Dennis put on a Bulls uniform after what he put them through with the Pistons? But Michael understood that this guy was a scary worker, a great 1-on-1 defender, and very smart. When the camera was off, he probably wouldn't say a word to you. But when that light came on, Dennis Rodman knew exactly what he was doing and what it would take to win. Without him, we don't win three championships."

Rodman's crazy off-court life stole the media spotlight from Jordan

When Rodman arrived in Chicago, he was already a two-time NBA champion, two-time DPOY winner, and a four-time rebounding champion. However, while these were the reasons the Bulls signed him in 1995, they were also getting the colorful version of "The Worm."

Not only did Rodman begin coloring his hair in San Antonio, but he also began showing bizarre behavior that often got him in trouble. From his fling with Madonna to feuding with the Spurs front office, his stint in the Alamo was a disaster. But the Bulls took a chance on him.

Not only did they get the best of Dennis on the basketball court, but his off-court antics unintentionally deflected the media attention from Michael Jordan.

"He took some of the media spotlight off Michael," added Brown. "Michael had 35 points last night, but Dennis had 22 rebounds, and then he was spotted on the south side of Chicago with liquor in his hand, stuff like that. He took the pressure off Michael, and it let Michael perform."

The media sent MJ into his first retirement in 1993

Getting the media off Mike was important for the Bulls. There was no question that Jordan was the ultimate killer on the basketball court. His drive to succeed and hunger to win were second to none. However, if there was a kryptonite to MJ, it was the media, who made him mentally tired and drove him to retirement after the Bulls' first three-peat run.

"I started to feel the attention take on a different tone—that is, they started going after me personally. We have the freedom to build people up and tear them down. Everyone can have their own opinion, and I respect that," said Jordan.

"A couple of weeks after our third championship, in 1993, I was through. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and David Falk talked me into taking the summer to think about what I wanted to do. But I knew. My father's death and everything that followed—the attacks on me and my family, the suggestion that I was somehow to blame or that my gambling had played a role only helped to confirm what I knew months before," he added.

If there was such pressure after winning a three-peat, how much more in 1995 when the Bulls were trying to reclaim their glory? Chicago was eliminated in the playoffs the year before by an Orlando Magic team that played with an inspired Horace Grant. Rodman was brought in to replace Grant. But not only did Rodman play that part well, but he was a media distraction that Jordan needed to perform at his best.

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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.