Episode 3 of The Last Dance on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls is essentially a documentary within a documentary – it’s the Dennis Rodman episode.
Rodman was a character in every sense of the word. Off-court drama that was considerable. A rebel and a maverick whose antics made the rest of the NBA nervous. The only reason he stayed functional during those Bulls years was a combination of Phil Jackson’s incredibly wise man-management and the no-nonsense inspiration of Michael Jordan, backed by the steady presence of Scottie Pippen.
And yet – Jordan and Pippen both speak about Rodman with enormous appreciation. Big smiles. Genuine warmth.
Because they knew exactly what he brought.
Rodman averaged maybe 5 to 7 points a game. But that stat tells you everything about what kind of player he was – a master class of a defender who did all the dirty work, freed Jordan and Pippen to do what they did best, and made the second three-peat possible in ways that don’t show up in those offensive stats.
When Pippen was asked what it was like integrating Rodman into the team, he didn’t hesitate. He said – “Like a hand in a glove.”
Great teams recognize complementary players. They give them space to be who they are. They don’t try to sand down the edges – they build around them.
The Chicago Bulls had tremendous success before that era and none after it. But during that window, they were arguably the greatest team the NBA has ever seen. And a big part of why is that they knew how to take someone like Dennis Rodman – someone the rest of the league couldn’t figure out what to do with – and make him the final piece of an impressive puzzle.
That’s what great teams do.
A Learning a Day 