Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 66 – Dennis Rodman
Career: 1986 – 2000
Achievements: Five-time champion; All-NBA (2x); All-Star (8x); All-Defense (8x); Defensive Player of the Year (2x); led the league in rebounds (7x); 24th in career rebounds
Where do you rank one of the 10 greatest defensive players of all time if he provided basically nothing on offense? It’s a fascinating question, and it came up for a number of players — none quite as elite in either defense or rebounding as Dennis Rodman, which is why he checks in as the highest-ranked of the group.
Rodman led the league in rebounding seven times, which is even crazier when you realize that he is just 6’7″ and never played center. He was relentless in his pursuit of every board, just as he was in preventing you from scoring on defense. He was not just an elite defender at power forward, but his ability to defend multiple positions unlocked the Bad Boys; title run and kept the Chicago Bulls’ window wide open.
Rodman played 14 seasons in the NBA, and his teams (five different franchises) made the playoffs in all but one of those years. He made the Conference Finals 10 times in those 14 years and won five titles with the Pistons and Bulls. He may have stressed out coaches with his lifestyle and loud personality, but he also came through when it mattered to delivering wins and titles.