In the 1990s, Dennis Rodman was nothing short of a threat. Leaving during the NBA Finals to make an appearance in the WWF. There were worms all around. David Stern, the NBA commissioner at the time, was fiercely against this fact.
Rodman was even the target of a fine warning from the commissioner. And the legendary Bulls player couldn’t care less. He was just physically different. But as the 1990s came to an end, the Chicago Bulls’ legacy also did.
Everything changed at the turn of the millennium. Meanwhile, the league’s tolerance for Rodman’s unpredictable behavior was waning.
He was no longer a member of Michael Jordan’s team. His Airness himself had left the group. And because of this, Stern, the commissioner, put greater pressure on Dennis. Everything swiftly came to a head while he was playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
After Getting Ejected from A Dallas Mavericks Game, Dennis Rodman Threw the Gauntlet Down for David Stern
By no means was Dennis a pacifist. He was ejected 22 times during his stint in the NBA and before this particular incident. His 23rd ejection came as a result of the altercation and overflow during the game against the Bucks.
the February 15, 2000: Dennis Rodman is ejected late in his second game with Dallas, and later given a one game suspension and $10,000 fine for failing to leave the court in a timely manner and for verbally abusing the officials.
The Mavericks lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, 112-99. pic.twitter.com/tgUv1GJUZ7
NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) February 15, 2023
The cause of the expulsion? for failing to leave the courtroom right away and for calling the staff members names. Although both arguments are valid, we’re talking about Dennis here. His lack of discipline made him a weak leader.
When it was evident how the game would end, Dennis publicly challenged David Stern. He advised him that the only way for them to resolve their issues was in the ring.
February 16, 2000: Dennis Rodman is fined $10K and suspended one game for his on-court behavior the day before. The fine & suspension were announced a few hours after Rodman challenged NBA Commissioner David Stern to “get into a ring” with him.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith weighs in: https://t.co/dGODVuwwYc“>https://t.co/dGODVuwwYc pic.twitter.com/8EVihCCEBi
NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) February 16, 2023
“Me and You, Naked, in The Ring!”: Rodman’s Callous Shoutout Led to A $10,000 Fine and His Eventual Ejection from The NBA
His time with the Dallas Mavericks marked Rodman’s final season in the NBA. And a significant portion of that is because Rodman was a ticking time bomb, and nobody wanted to be associated with him.
openly requesting to engage in, mud wrestling with the commissioner? A ring that isn’t dressed? What on earth was Rodman even referring to? Even that raises questions. Yet actions like this would discredit your team’s reputation.
The Mavericks waived him after a few months as a result. The charismatic Dennis Rodman’s career in the NBA came to an end at that point.
