‘He had problems with David’s intensity and work ethic’: Dennis Rodman didn’t respect David Robinson while they played together on Spurs

For two seasons, NBA icons Dennis Rodman and David Robinson were teammates on the San Antonio Spurs .

And according to Jack Haley , who played with Rodman and Robinson, Rodman didnt respect Robinson one bit.

Dennis had a real problem in his respect for David Robinson as a player, Haley said in Roland Lazenbys book Blood On the Horns: The Long Strange Ride of Michael Jordans Chicago Bulls .

He had problems with Davids intensity and work ethic in practice.

One thing about Dave: Dave could be the most talented player and athlete in the NBA.

...

Therefore, hes not a big practice guy.

Not a big work ethic guy.

By [January], Dave would have sat out 30 practices.

Its tendinitis.

Its, Im sore today.

Whatever it was, Dennis is a practice guy, and it didnt sit well with Dennis.

That caused a lot of problems...

Dave tried everything ...

imaginable to bond with Dennis Rodman, to get through with Dennis Rodman to form a friendship.

Im good friends with Dennis and Im good friends with Dave.

Dave would ask me, Why dont the three of us go to lunch? Why dont we sit down and try to talk? He would try to talk to Dennis about basketball to form a bond.

Dennis wouldnt respond.

Dave is very religious.

He felt that part of his quest was to get through to Dennis Rodman on a religious level, to try to turn his life around.

That didnt work out at all.

The Spurs traded Rodman to the Chicago Bulls in 1995 and Robinson was delighted about the move.

Rodman finished his San Antonio career with averages of 5.6 points, 17.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks in 128 games.

The Bulls benefited significantly by adding Rodman, one of the best rebounders in NBA history.

Chicago won three consecutive championships and went 72-10 in 1995-96.

Rodman averaged 5.2 points and 15.3 rebounds with the Bulls, who beat the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals and the Utah Jazz in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals.

Rodman won three straight rebounding titles in Chicago.

The Bulls won three NBA titles before acquiring Rodman.

However, Rodman said in The Last Dance docuseries that Chicago wouldnt have won three more rings without him.

You got the great Michael Jordan , the great Scottie Pippen , the great Phil Jackson , but if you take me away from this team, do they still win a championship? I dont think so, Rodman said in The Last Dance.

I love Michael Jordan to death.

I love Scottie Pippen, all these guys, but they really dont do the things that I do.

Im the only guy who does all the dirty work, taking abuse from other players.

I wanna go out there and get my nose broke.

I wanna get cut.

Something thats gonna really just bring out the hurt, the pain.

I wanna feel that.

Rodman won five championships during his career, while Robinson won two.

Both players are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and on the NBAs 75th Anniversary Team.

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission..

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