San Antonio Spurs: 15 players you may have forgot played in San Antonio
No. 6: Dennis Rodman (1993-94 – 1994-95)
Long before the days of “culture fits” and silent assassins, the San Antonio Spurs — a budding, championship-less franchise to this point — took its fair share of leaps of faith, perhaps none higher than its trade on Oct. 1, 1993.
On that day, the Spurs closed the door on a past regime, trading away Sean Elliott, David Wood, and a later first-round pick (which became “Junkyard Dog” Jerome Williams) in 1996, and in return, acquired disgruntled star Dennis Rodman, Isaiah Morris, and two picks (that later became Antonio Lang and John Wallace).
The ESPN 30 for 30, Rodman: For Better or Worse, shed light on Rodman’s identity crises; the high point of which coming on a night in which he contemplated taking his own life. The Detroit Pistons, weary of Rodman’s baggage, shipped him to the San Antonio Spurs, where he became apart of a frontcourt on two opposite sides of the spectrum with David Robinson.
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Rodman’s numbers, per usual, were eye-popping. He averaged 5.6 points and 17.1 rebounds, and remained one the league’s most feared defenders. Rodman had a predictably rocky relationship with Gregg Popovich, even claiming that Popovich referred to him as “the devil,” and that the Spurs legendary coach was “afraid” of him.
Rodman would later it a “blessing” that the Spurs didn’t win a championship from 1993 to 1995, a provision that allowed him to join the Bulls and win three consecutive titles from 1996 to 1998.
Words will never do Rodman justice — not for a man who inspired NBC to track his team’s win-loss record by hair color. But for all the unforgettable moments Rodman gave us throughout his career, you may have forgotten his brief two-year run with the San Antonio Spurs. Or, maybe not.