Dennis Rodman’s mind and playstyle were of investigation in episodes 3 and 4 of The Last Dance. He reminds, especially in playstyle or Draymond Green today
Episodes 3 and 4 of The Last Dance, the Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls docuseries which aired on Sunday night focused primarily on Dennis Rodman. His headspace and playstyle were discussed as central themes.
On the court, Rodman was an enforcer, an agitator, and was described as a guy who “fu–ed sh– up” on the court in Sunday nights’ episodes. Focused on doing the dirty work, Rodman was excellent in two crucial areas, defense and rebounding.
He only averaged double-digit points per game in one season, but averaged double-digit rebounds in 10 straight seasons, leading the league in rebounds per game for an outstanding seven straight years with the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls.
While it might be easy to think that Rodman was a mind-numb player, simply getting out there and being physical, Jordan painted him throughout the documentary as a useful and cerebral player. He praised his basketball intelligence, and there was an extremely poignant scene of the two discussing how to handle a switch on the defensive end where their minds were working together.
As I took it all in I couldn’t help but think of a modern player who has some parallels — Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
Both players have an offensive game and can score the ball, but don’t necessarily rely on that to make an impact. And when they score, boy is it ugly.
Rodman might tip the ball what feels like 15 times around the rim before he gets it to go in, ricocheting off the backboard or the iron each time and bodying those around him as he leaps. Green has a signature 3-point shot that looks like he is wearing a backpack of bricks, and though able to handle the ball, might barrel opponents over in the process.
Green, likewise, is an incredible defender agitator, and pulls down his fair amount of rebounds, averaging as many as 9.5 per game in a given season. He’s one of the league’s most intelligent defenders and was Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and has made five All-Defensive teams.
Green has no problem with taking the background role on the offensive end, averaging just 7.4 points per game in the 2019 season where the Warriors would go to the Finals. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson all had to get theirs on offense, but Green was ever impactful on the defensive end, leading the team in defensive box plus/minus with 2.7.
It’s no 1:1 comparison. The playstyles of Green and Rodman are vastly different in many ways and their legacies will close with much different feels. But in terms of being reliant on basketball intelligence, physicality, and valuing defense, these two are quite alike.