© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dennis Rodman shares how he had to take a break from Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
Aside from being known for his rebounding and defensive skills, former Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman also has a well-deserved reputation for being a magnet for controversy. From his days of dating Madonna and Carmen Electra to his numerous suspensions, fines, and ejections, Rodman was always in the headlines.
However, during his brief time of playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, "The Worm" got fed up with the petty bickering between the team's two transcendent stars, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. It had apparently become too much for even Rodman to take that he asked for time off to escape all the madness.
Time in Hollywood
When the Bulls broke up their dynasty, Rodman was left without a team for most of the 1998-1999 season. While Jordan retired and Scottie Pippen joined the Houston Rockets, Rodman eventually made his way to Hollywood, joining the Lakers for the last 23 games of the regular season.
That Lakers squad had Shaq, the larger-than-life center who averaged 26.2 points per game, and Kobe, the sleek, up-and-coming 20-year-old guard who scored 19.9 points a night. The two alphas often butted heads, which was more than enough to create a distraction for the team. Ultimately, it even proved too much for Rodman.
"Sh*t you not, I said this: 'I gotta take a break, I gotta go to Vegas.' Because I couldn't hear that sh*t every day. Every day they bit**in, and bit**in, and bit**in, complaining every day. Kobe and Shaq, Kobe and Shaq, and they're just bit**in about everything," Rodman shared.
Policed one another in Chicago
It is true that the Bulls encountered some challenges, especially because of Michael Jordan's renowned fiery and competitive spirit, which occasionally clashed with his teammates. Still, according to Rodman, such tensions never escalated to an unmanageable level. Instead, they channeled their frustrations towards themselves, allowing their collective focus to remain on the game.
"In Chicago, we never did this sh*t. If we got mad, we got mad at ourselves," Rodman said.
