Why Dennis Rodman Was Crucial For The Bulls Winning Their Fourth NBA Title, According to Phil Jackson

When key players like Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, and Michael Jordan had their run with the Chicago Bulls, the team was seemingly unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with. But, according to Phil Jackson, there was one standout among the three of the legends. 

During the 1995-1996 season, the Bulls built up their soon-to-be-legendary roster of some of the greatest NBA plays in the history of the sport. This followed the departure of Horace Grant, who left the team to join the Orlando Magic one season prior. 

Obviously, we all knew that The Worm displayed an unprecedented level of talent when it came to rebounding and defensive skills. But, as we all know, Rodman was infamous for his off-the-court antics, which created a lot of doubt in the player's longevity in the NBA. 

What was abundantly clear, though, was that Rodman's skills were nigh unmatched. Fellow Chicago Bulls team member and legendary NBA player Michael Jordan took matters into his own hands... literally. 

Allegedly, Jordan grabbed Rodzilla by the temples and sternly addressed his concerns, in order to keep Rodman focused and ready to go. It became a group effort, as Phil Jackson had to step in and aid Jordan in getting Rodman's head in the game. 

Jackson, who was the previous coach of the Chicago Bulls, went on record to say that Mr. Rodman was absolutely a key aspect of the Bulls taking home their fourth NBA title. 

Their efforts paid off when Rodman showed just how integral he was to the team, being the top rebounder of the entire series. To the glee of Jackson, it was Rodman's contribution that was key in the team's victory. 

Rodman averaged 14.7 rebounds per contest, a monumental achievement. On top of that, The Worm averaged 7.5 points and 2.5 assists in each game during the entire series. 

All of this goes to show that our favorite NBA player has, time and time again, proven himself to be a reluctant team player who's to be remembered for the foreseeable future. 

Source: 

https://www.basketballnetwork.net/old-school/phil-jackson-shared-why-dennis-rodman-was-crucial-for-the-bulls-winning-their-fourth-nba-title