7 times Dennis Rodman scored 0 points but recorded 20+ rebounds

Dennis Rodman is one of the best players in NBA history. He played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, LA Lakers and Dallas Mavericks during his time in the NBA. Rodman epitomized team basketball and doing whatever it took to win.

Today, people refer to Draymond Green and PJ Tucker as players who are invaluable to championship squads. The duo is the type of players who don't score points but do whatever their team asks them to.

Well, Dennis Rodman paved the way for the likes of Green and Tucker. Rodman was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in rebounding for seven consecutive NBA seasons.

When Dennis Rodman grabbed more than 20 boards in a game while going scoreless:

Dennis Rodman played alongside some great legends during his prime. He was part of the Isiah Thomas-led Detroit 'Bad Boy' Pistons in the late 1980s before he joined forces with the San Antonio Spurs and David Robinson.

After a two-year stint in San Antonio, Rodman found championship glory once again, this time with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.

Expand Tweet

Naturally, Dennis Rodman wasn't asked to score buckets during his championship-winning days, as that task was left to the likes of Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan. He had one job - get rebounds and defend at a high level.

There were seven instances when Dennis Rodman grabbed more than 20 boards in a game while going scoreless. On that note, here's look at those games:

#7 December 13th, 1993 vs Utah Jazz - 20 rebounds

Dennis Rodman with the San Antonio Spurs [Source: mySA]

While playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Rodman had just one goal in mind - grabbing boards. He posted a zero tally in every single statistic in this game except rebounding, finishing with a final box score of 20 rebounds and zero points, assists, steals and blocks. He had just one turnover in the entire game, and seven of his 20 boards were on the offensive end.

The San Antonio Spurs lost the game by 15 points despite outrebounding the Utah Jazz 40-35, though. David Robinson had 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Utah's Karl Malone had 27 points and nine rebounds.

#6 January 25th, 1994 vs Sacramento Kings - 20 rebounds

Dennis Rodman with the San Antonio Spurs against the Sacramento Kings [Source: KFOX]

This game saw another Dennis Rodman masterclass in cleaning the glass. Coming off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs, he played 36 minutes and grabbed 20 rebounds while going scoreless against the Sacramento Kings. The Spurs routed the Kings in a 16-point victory while outrebounding them 52-39.

Expand Tweet

Dennis Rodman also recorded one assist, one steal and a block in that game, while recording just two turnovers. He was scoreless, not because his shots were falling but because he didn't attempt a single field goal. Seventeen of his 20 boards were defensive, while three were offensive.

#5 April 2nd, 1994 vs Charlotte Hornets - 20 rebounds

This game was one of Dennis Rodman's best, as he dished out eight assists and grabbed 20 boards. The San Antonio Spurs remarkably got outrebounded by the Charlotte Hornets 49-48 despite Rodman's best efforts in cleaning the glass. However, the Spurs won 117-111 behind David Robinson's team-high 23 points.

Dennis Rodman scored zero points on the night, but grabbed 20 boards and made eight assists along with just two field goal attempts. Sixteen of his 20 rebounds were defensive, while four were at the offensive end.

#4 December 15th, 1997 vs Phoenix Suns - 21 rebounds

Dennis Rodman (#91) with Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls [Source: Illinois Gordon]

Dennis Rodman didn't need to dedicate his energy in scoring buckets when he had Michael Jordan alongside him.

In a game against the Phoenix Suns in 1997, MJ dropped 31 points on 10-23 shooting, while Toni Kukoc scored 23. Rodman attempted four shots from the field, including one three-pointer, but missed all of them. However, he was still +14 in box +/- for the game because of his success in grabbing boards. The Chicago Bulls outrebounded the Phoenix Suns 53-44, largely because of Dennis Rodman's exploits.

He ended the game with 21 rebounds, six assists and one steal. Seventeen of his 21 boards were at the defensive end, while four were at the offensive end. The Bulls had a 23-point lead at half-time, but the Suns surged in the second half. However, Jordan and Rodman helped their team win 111-104 on the night.

#3 November 12th, 1993 vs Sacramento Kings - 24 rebounds

Dennis Rodman (right) and David Robinson with the San Antonio Spurs [Source: mySA]

The San Antonio Spurs lost this game against the Sacramento Kings, despite Dennis Rodman and David Robinson's best efforts.

Rodman grabbed a whopping 24 rebounds in this game while going scoreless, while Robinson dropped 32 points and four blocks. Rodman also had three assists and a steal while attempting just one field goal and two free throws all game, missing them all.

Expand Tweet

Eleven of Rodman's 24 boards were offensive rebounds, leading to several second-chance points for his team. However, Mitch Richmond, Lionel Simmons and Wayman Tisdale of the Kings helped their team to a nail-biting two-point victory.

#2 November 10th, 1993 vs Phoenix Suns - 25 rebounds

This was another display where Rodman displayed his nose for the ball, Dennis Rodman was known as "The Worm" for his penchant to track down balls.

He apparently studied where the ball would go after each missed shot, and used fight-and-grab boards despite being an undersized power forward. On November 10th, 1993, Dennis Rodman grabbed 25 boards against the Phoenix Suns while going scoreless, but the Spurs ended up on the losing side that night.

The Suns won 101-93 as Charles Barkley exploded for 35 points and 20 rebounds. In fact, the Suns outrebounded the Spurs 46-44. Dennis Rodman ended the game with a stat line of zero points, 25 rebounds, two assists and a block while playing all 48 minutes. He attempted just one shot in the entire game, and seven of his 25 rebounds were offensive boards.

#1 December 1st, 1993 vs Charlotte Hornets - 28 rebounds

Dennis Rodman with the San Antonio Spurs [Source: Basketball Network]

Dennis Rodman had games where he dropped 20+ points. He has also had triple-double outings, and his career-high in boards is 34 rebounds. But many would still put his performance against the Charlotte Hornets in 1993 as one of his best ever.

In his third outing in a five-game stretch, Dennis Rodman grabbed 28 boards and scored zero points. He did so just days after grabbing 25 boards and going scoreless as well.

Expand Tweet

His peak with the Spurs was delightful to watch. as he bullied players in the paint for rebounds. In this game against the Charlotte Hornets,

Expand Tweet

Dennis Rodman recorded 28 rebounds with ten offensive and 18 defensive, along with three assists. The Spurs outrebounded the Charlotte Hornets 55-41 as the former won 92-88.