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Dennis Rodman will forever be one of the most vital role players who contributed to the Chicago Bulls' success in the 90s.
Rodman was a fearless NBA legend who knew how to play his part in the team. He was tough, he always went after the ball and his grittiness is also what helped inspire the Bulls.
With that in mind, let's take a look at Rodman's stats during the Bulls' three-peat.
'Bad Boy' Dennis Rodman
Back in the late 80s, Dennis Rodman was playing for the Detroit Pistons.
During his time there, the Pistons often faced the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals. Their constant matchups led to one of the most documented rivalries in NBA history. Rodman was still assisting Pistons star player Isiah Thomas at the time to prevent Michael Jordan from making the NBA Finals.
Rodman was already a rebounding machine, however, he was still in his early stages. From 1988-1990, Rodman averaged 9.2 rebounds per game. He was already a force to be reckoned with inside the paint, giving Jordan difficulty in attacking the basket. Eventually, the Bulls beat the Pistons in 1991, marking the beginning of their first three-peat.
While Michael Jordan won his first three-peat with Chicago between 1991-1993, Dennis Rodman was never involved. Despite unsuccessfully making a deep playoff run during that time period, Rodman transformed into the rebounding legend he's known for today. From 1991-1993, "Dennis the Menace" averaged an impressive 16.5 rebounds per game.
His most notable rebounding season was when Rodman averaged a career-high 18.7 rebounds per game in 1992. Due to his efforts to always grab the ball at any given cost, this eventually caught the attention of the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan was returning from his first retirement and the Bulls needed to surround him with quality players.
Chicago Bulls' second three-peat
The big three of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman will forever be known for "The Last Dance".
The legendary trio helped the Chicago Bulls accomplish their second three-peat. No matter how controversial he was, former Bulls GM Jerry Krause was brilliant for acquiring Jordan's long-time rival Rodman. His intensity on the court rivaled Jordan's, which gave opponents a difficult time.
Rodman was without a doubt an important piece of the puzzle in the Bulls' second championship run. He averaged 15.3 rebounds in a span of three seasons from 1996-1998. During this time period, he won three of his seven consecutive rebounding titles since 1992. Having a defender of his caliber definitely did wonders for the Bulls.
