'''Dennis Keith Rodman''' (born May 13 1961, in Trenton, New Jersey) is a professional basketball player best known for his defensive and rebounding ability, leading the National Basketball Association in rebounds per game for a record seven consecutive years and earning NBA All-Defensive First Team honors seven times. He is also well-known for his controversial antics on and off the court. He has been featured in several television and film roles.
When Rodman entered the NBA in 1986, he was officially listed as while playing one of the most physical positions in basketball at power forward. Despite often being matched at a height disadvantage, he became one of the most dominant rebounders in NBA history, and was also a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Rodman was able to overcome being a few inches shorter than his counterparts with his willingness to put his body on the line for any rebound, his intense work ethic, his incredible physical strength, and his expert knowledge of the game.
Career
Pre-NBA and amateur career
Rodman, who grew up in Dallas, Texas, was far from a basketball prospect in high school; he only became one when he grew 11 inches (27 cm) in one year, late in his teenage years. After a stint at Cooke County College in Gainesville, Texas, he played for Southeastern Oklahoma State University, an NAIA school. There, he was a good scorer as well as a good rebounder, but was not yet known for his antics.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons took sufficient notice of him to select him in the second round of the 1986 NBA Draft. At that time, the Pistons were an up-and-coming team led by Isiah Thomas at point guard, Joe Dumars at shooting guard, Adrian Dantley at small forward, and Bill Laimbeer at center. They had notable role players in Vinnie Johnson, John Salley, and Rick Mahorn. Rodman's intensity was a perfect fit for a team known for its rough style of play and tenacious defense. The Pistons were knocked out of the playoffs in 1987 by their nemesis Boston Celtics, although Rodman did a decent job of guarding their star player, Larry Bird.
In 1988, Rodman seemed to show even more star potential, crashing the boards more and defending better than before. In 1989, he was finally recognized for his work by being named Defensive Player of the Year, the first of his two consecutive DPOY awards. He finished second to Laimbeer in rebounding on the team, and Rodman helped the Pistons put away the young Chicago Bulls for the second straight year as they won their first NBA championship.
