Dennis Rodman has always lived differently from everyone else around him. During his NBA career, he became one of the most recognizable athletes in the world not just because of his rebounding ability, but because of the chaos and unpredictability that seemed to follow him everywhere.
On the basketball court, Rodman built a Hall of Fame résumé through relentless hustle, defensive intensity, and an unmatched motor. Despite being undersized compared to many forwards and centers of his era, he dominated the glass, frustrated opponents, and became an essential piece of multiple championship teams.
Away from basketball, though, Rodman developed a reputation that was completely unique. His brightly colored hair, tattoos, piercings, celebrity relationships, and headline-grabbing behavior made him one of the most controversial sports figures of the 1990s. Even among athletes known for eccentric personalities, Rodman stood in a category of his own.
Still, few stories connected to Rodman are stranger than his friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Rodman’s Visits to North Korea Shocked the World
In 2013, Rodman traveled to North Korea as part of a basketball exhibition trip. At the time, tensions between the United States and North Korea were already severe, which made the visit immediately controversial.
Most celebrities, athletes, and politicians avoided any association with the isolated country. Rodman did the opposite. He embraced the trip fully and eventually returned several more times throughout the early 2010s.
What initially appeared to be a publicity stunt quickly became something much deeper. Rodman formed a surprisingly close relationship with Kim Jong Un, bonding over basketball, parties, and long conversations centered around what Rodman later described as “basketball diplomacy.”
The relationship stunned the public because Rodman seemed completely comfortable spending time with one of the most heavily criticized political leaders in the world. While governments kept their distance, Rodman willingly entered North Korea multiple times and publicly defended Kim afterward.
That friendship eventually became so famous that it reportedly attracted serious attention from U.S. authorities.
Why Dennis Rodman Still Uses Flip Phones
Years after his NBA career ended, Rodman appeared in interviews carrying old-school flip phones instead of modern smartphones. At first glance, many assumed it was connected to financial problems.
Rodman earned millions during his playing days, but much of that money disappeared after retirement through lawsuits, expensive spending habits, failed investments, and personal issues. Seeing him use outdated phones caused many people to believe he could no longer afford high-end devices.
But the real explanation had little to do with money.
According to Rodman, the attention surrounding his relationship with Kim Jong Un led to concerns about phone monitoring and surveillance. He eventually became convinced that authorities were tracking his communications because they believed the North Korean leader might be contacting him regularly.
That paranoia pushed Rodman toward simpler technology. Instead of relying on smartphones, he began carrying multiple flip phones, believing they offered more privacy and less tracking.
Even in an era dominated by advanced mobile technology, Rodman reportedly continued using several flip phones at once because of those concerns.
For most people, abandoning smartphones would seem inconvenient. For Rodman, it became part of his lifestyle.
Rodman Became One of Kim Jong Un’s Most Unexpected Defenders
Rodman’s connection with Kim Jong Un went beyond simple appearances or staged publicity photos. Over time, the former Bulls star repeatedly spoke positively about his experiences with the North Korean leader.
While much of the world viewed Kim as a dangerous dictator tied to nuclear threats, economic struggles, and harsh government control, Rodman described him differently based on the interactions he personally witnessed.
Rodman consistently portrayed Kim as calm, friendly, and respectful during their meetings. He acknowledged that many accusations and criticisms existed surrounding North Korea, but maintained that his direct experiences did not match the image constantly presented in international headlines.
Those comments immediately created backlash.
Critics argued that Rodman was helping soften the public image of an authoritarian regime accused of serious human rights abuses. Others believed he was being manipulated politically. Some simply viewed the entire relationship as bizarre and irresponsible.
But Rodman never seemed interested in backing away from the friendship, even when the criticism intensified.
Basketball Diplomacy Became Rodman’s Unexpected Role
What made the entire situation even stranger was that Rodman appeared to genuinely believe basketball could bridge political divides.
During his visits, basketball often served as the centerpiece of discussions and events. Rodman organized exhibition games, interacted with North Korean athletes, and leaned heavily into the idea that sports could create dialogue where politics failed.
It was an unusual role for someone once known primarily for technical fouls, rebounding titles, and wild Las Vegas stories.
Yet somehow, Rodman evolved into one of the few Americans with direct access to Kim Jong Un during that period.
The NBA legend frequently described their conversations as personal rather than political. In Rodman’s eyes, he was simply building a relationship through mutual respect and a shared love of basketball.
Whether people viewed it as naïve, reckless, or admirable depended entirely on perspective.
Rodman’s Life Has Always Defied Expectations
Dennis Rodman’s story has never followed a normal path.
He transformed from a lightly recruited player into one of the greatest defenders and rebounders in NBA history.
He became a global celebrity through behavior that many organizations considered impossible to manage. And long after retirement, he somehow found himself at the center of international political headlines because of a friendship nobody saw coming.
The flip phones are simply another chapter in that strange journey.
For most people, carrying multiple outdated phones in 2026 would feel out of place. For Rodman, it fits perfectly with a life built on unpredictability, controversy, and refusing to live by normal expectations.
That unpredictability is exactly why people remain fascinated by him decades after his final NBA game.
