Dennis Rodman played a pivotal role in the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat during the 1990s. With his unmatched rebounding, fierce defense, and high-octane energy, Rodman brought the grit and hustle that helped elevate the Bulls to greatness.
But what’s surprising is that when the Bulls were looking to strengthen their roster in 1995, Rodman wasn’t even near the top of their list. In fact, bringing him in seemed unlikely at first. Phil Jackson, the Bulls’ head coach at the time, admitted that the idea of signing Rodman initially felt out of the question.
After the 1994–95 season, the Bulls were at a crossroads. They had already won three championships earlier in the decade, but after falling short that season, it became clear changes were needed.
Horace Grant, one of their key forwards during the first three-peat, had left for Orlando, leaving a void in the lineup. The team’s leadership — Jackson and General Manager Jerry Reinsdorf — began exploring options to fill that hole.
They needed a tough, versatile forward who could complement the elite duo of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
In a 1997 interview, Jackson revealed that he had gone old-school in his search, writing down potential names on a sheet of paper, brainstorming who might be the right fit.
Despite the doubts and Rodman's reputation as a wildcard, the Bulls took the risk — and it paid off in championship gold.
Source: https://www.basketballnetwork.net/old-school/phil-jackson-said-dennis-rodman-was-nearly-left-out-of-the-bulls-plans-in-1995
