Dennis Rodman Deserves Hall of Fame induction despite his off-court antics – NBA Feature
Dennis Rodman is not a new name to the world of basketball, especially NBA. He was as famous for his off court antics as he was for his on court dominance. However he was d**n good, and like it or not, come August 12, he will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial basketball hall of fame.
Rodman was indeed a special character. Although he has promised to behave during Friday’s ceremony, I will be surprised if he does not open the floodgates of his foulmouthed tongue. Rodman certainly doesn’t mind to ruffle a few feathers and had quite a controversial career thanks to his vile remarks every now and then.
He was considered the ‘bad boy’ of basketball who specialized in all forms of behaviours involving gross misconduct. However, it wasn’t entirely his fault, as it was something which came naturally to him. It was a part of who he was, without which he would not have been the Rodman we all came to love.
Besides his obscene rhetoric, Rodman was a remarkable athlete and a wonderful player. He is ranked amongst the best rebounders of all time. In total, he managed seven rebounding titles and 5 NBA Championship rings to mark his illustrious career.
Defensively, Rodman was like a mean machine. Getting past him was an arduous task but contesting for a rebound against the bad boy was next to impossible. A 14 year career saw him rack up a staggering 13.1 rebounds per game.
At 6 ft 6 inch, the bad boy was like a lion marking his territory. He often had to deal with players much taller and stronger than him, including the likes of Shaquille O’Neal. But that did not matter, as no one was ever able to compete against the athleticism of Rodman.
Phil Jackson, the former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers Coach, once described him as the greatest athlete he ever coached. And Jackson is the very man who has been nominated to induct Rodman into the Naismith Memorial hall of fame.
Dennis won three championships with the Chicago Bulls and his contribution in those titles was second to none. If Michael Jordan was the best offensive player, Rodman was easily the best in defence. Moreover, his contribution on the offensive front was equally impressive as his rebounding was strong on both ends.
Amidst Rodman’s exceptional rebounding, exquisite passing and deep understanding of Winter’s triangle offense plus the game itself; he always had a knack of engaging in not only controversial but rather repugnant acts off the court.
Although such acts might have marred his otherwise brilliant career, it should not have an effect on his induction into the hall of fame. This is because when he was on the court, he was a true competitor and a remarkable player, something that should be recognized with no strings attached.
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