The Last Dance: Dennis Rodman’s top moments with the Chicago Bulls

1. June 16, 1996: Rodman helps Bulls win their fourth title in six years in 87-75 win against the Seattle Supersonics

The Chicago Bulls looked nearly invincible during most of their postseason run in 1996, as they won 11 of their first 12 games through the first three rounds. And that trend continued through the first three games of the 1996 NBA Finals, jumping out to a commanding 3-0 series lead. However, the then Seattle Supersonics weren’t going to go away quietly.

In fact, they took games 4 and 5 to force a sixth game back in the Windy City. Although the Bulls had lost only three games at that point, the Supersonics had finally shown up and the momentum was clearly on their side heading into Game 6.

This game proved to be an ugly one on multiple levels. Both teams combined for a whopping 39 turnovers (Supersonics – 20, Bulls – 19). Neither team could throw the ball into the ocean as the Supersonics shot 42.5 percent from the field, while the Bulls connected on just 39.7 percent of their attempts.

The bench units produced a total of 28 points. Furthermore, both Jordan and Pippen shot a combined 12-for-36 from the field. In a contest where points were at a premium, the Bulls needed a spark.

That spark came in the form of Dennis Rodman. As some may recall, Rodman was a big reason the Bulls came out on top (92-88) in Game 2. In that contest, he contributed 10 points and 20 rebounds.

In Game 6, he was at it again, scoring nine points (4-for-9 shooting) to go along with 19 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

"“As you evaluate the series, Dennis Rodman won two basketball games,” Sonics head coach George Karl said, via NBA.com. “We controlled Dennis Rodman for four games. But Game 2 and tonight, he was the reason they were successful.”"

Even the best teams have to find a way to win ugly and that is exactly what Rodman helped the Bulls do in this one.

Prior to signing with the Bulls, Rodman was regarded as a dirty player and rightfully so. However, Rodman’s presence proved to be invaluable and without him in the fold, the Bulls do not go on to win three more championships, which cemented them as one of the most dominant teams of their era.