Every NBA fan knows that Dennis Rodman had his fair share of “rowdy” moments throughout his career. He’s one of the most polarizing figures in the history of the league, and that’s by a long shot when compared to most other players. His antics are well-documented and something that supporters of the various teams he was on just couldn’t get behind, even if he was one of the best players in the league.
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Some have described him as a volatile athlete, one that made every moment on the court one in which anything could happen. He’s had his fair share of trouble with the league and the law over the years, but despite that, many fans still hold Rodman in high regard thanks to his over-the-top nature.
10 Kicking A Cameraman
If people weren’t careful, they were likely to end up on the wrong side of Rodman’s wrath. One cameraman found that out the hard way one fateful night back in 1997. In a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rodman was getting close to losing his cool.
When a rebound attempt ended up with Rodman down on the floor, that was probably a bit of a breaking point. Once a cameraman made the mistake of getting in his face, Rodman delivered a kick to the innocent man after tripping over him, something that landed Rodman a suspension and a sizable fine.
9 Headbutting Stacey King
Back when Rodman was on the San Antonio Spurs, he’d already managed to become quite the hothead. One such display of aggression came against the team he would find the most success with much later, the Chicago Bulls.
Rodman and Stacey King were slowly wearing each other down over the course of the game until things boiled over. After a brief exchange, Rodman would deliver a headbutt to King, and to King’s credit, he returned the favor with a massive shove. That single act cost Rodman a nice cool $7500.
8 Arguing With Coach Hill
It’s probably fair to say that Rodman and his coach on the Spurs, Bob Hill, didn’t get along. The two could often be seen getting into it in the midst of games, and shockingly, even the NBA Conference semifinals didn’t change that.
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After constant arguing with Hill, and even showing a lack of sportsmanship by not joining in on team huddles, the decision was made to bench Rodman. It wasn’t one of the worst punishments he’d ever received, but it was just another moment that showed how hotheaded he could be.
7 Abusing Referees
Every time Rodman stepped onto the court, fans were wondering who would be the next person to draw his ire. One day when Rodman found himself at odds with the Lakers, it was the NBA referees who would be his next target.
Rodman was never shy to voice his opinions, and that became quite the issue. After laying into the referees with his words, Rodman would find himself fined a whopping $10,000 for refusing to listen and leave the court in a timely fashion.
6 Headbutting John Stockton
For whatever reason, Rodman really enjoyed using his head as a weapon. Back in 1993, Rodman went up against John Stockton and the pair must have been irritating one another over the course of the game.
Eventually, Rodman was fired up enough to deliver a headbutt to Stockton, something that would once again cost him quite a bit. He was only suspended for a single game and was only charged $5000, and that’s with a few extra comments directed toward the referees on that night.
5 Throwing Ice At Bob Hill
If a player finds themselves suspended, they probably always hope it’s a short one. The thing is, most players don’t cause their own suspensions by aggravating their coaches. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Rodman did to Spurs coach Bob Hill.
Rodman was doing what he did best, earning technicals, something that caused him to throw a bag of ice in the direction of both coach Hill and an NBA official. That ended as anyone would expect, with Rodman receiving an indefinite suspension. Thanks to just how big of an asset Rodman was, even that didn’t derail him all that much.
4 Arguing With The Referees
Shortly after Rodman had made his way to Chicago, fans were beginning to wonder if his violent ways were behind him. They learned that they were proven wrong when Chicago met with Seattle. It was never safe to bet against a confrontation featuring Rodman.
The altercation didn’t technically involve all that much violence, but it was another verbal battering for the NBA officials. Thanks to his arguing and refusal to leave the court, Rodman found himself with a sizable $5000 fine, but to Rodman, it was probably worth the money spent.
3 Throwing Dikembe Mutombo
NBA fans should know Dikembe Mutombo as an absolutely legendary center. The man was a tough player to get by for the best players, and that caused some friction with Rodman. In the midst of a play, Rodman let his anger get the better of him.
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It’s hard to see exactly what happens, but Rodman exercises enough force to send Mutombo crashing to the ground, earning himself a flagrant foul and an additional fine of $7500. The moment is made all the more chilling by the stare Rodman lays on Mutombo.
2 Headbutting A Referee
Dennis Rodman really should figure out some other way to get his aggression out. Since he wasn’t shy about handing out a decent headbutting, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he once headbutted a referee.
In the midst of a game between the Chicago Bulls and the (at the time) New Jersey Nets, Rodman found himself getting thrown out of the game. While he was heated as ever, no one expected him to headbutt a referee. For that, Rodman earned a six-game suspension and a $20,000 fine.
1 Hitting Joe Wolf In The Groin
There have been a few moments from Rodman that fans didn’t like, but most of them can be chalked up to the aggression that comes with playing at the highest level. What can’t be excused were his actions against Joe Wolf.
In a tough game that saw a lot of action, Rodman was attempting to stop Wolf from moving the ball down the court. Out of frustration, Rodman tags Wolf in the groin and then delivers an elbow to Wolf’s head, something that earned him a one-game suspension without pay and a $7500 fine.
