Many prominent figures tend to bring out a new side to their creativity by writing books to share their experiences or musings on life. Athletes also somehow happen to be amongst some of the top figures who share their life stories through books.
Dennis Rodman, the former NBA and unofficial peace ambassador to North Korea has written over two books since he retired.
Here’s everything we know about Dennis Rodman and his authoring life.
Who is Dennis Rodman?
Dennis Rodman is a retired NBA player who played with prominent teams, including the LA Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Chicago Bulls. He was born on May 13, 1961. He also is an unofficial peace ambassador to North Korea.
Dennis Rodman’s early life
Dennis Rodman was born to Shirley and Philander Rodman. His father was an American soldier and left the family to fight in the Vietnam War. The athlete had to take on multiple jobs to support his mother and siblings.
At some point, he even worked as a night janitor after high school.
When he was in high school, he tried several times to join the school’s basketball team but failed. Upon graduation, he was 5’11” and started his job as a night janitor. He experienced a growth spurt from 5’11” to 6’7″, which piqued his interest in basketball again.
Although he wasn’t too confident, he persisted anyway, so much that his family friend gave a tip to Cooke County College (North Central Texas College) about his physical abilities.
Dennis got into and joined their basketball team. He was able to average 17.6 points and 13.3 rebounds. But, his career and stay at Cooke County were short-lived. Despite being a beast on the court, his academics suffered.
He transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, which was an NAIA college. It helped him actively pursue his basketball career and before graduating, he received an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
One thing to note about Dennis Rodman is that when he starts something, he sees it through to the end. The athlete got attention for almost everything he did, and it’s a trait that most notable public figures possess.
During the Portsmouth Tournament for NBA hopefuls, he won the Most Valuable Player honors. This award made the Detroit Pistons recognize his talent and he started playing for the team in 1986.
How many books has Dennis Rodman written?
Dennis Rodman wasn’t just an excellent player on the basketball court– he is also an accomplished author. The retired cager has written six books! One of his best-selling books is Bad As I Wanna Be, an autobiography.
In Bad As I Wanna Be, he spoke about his estranged relationship with his father. In the same autobiography, Dennis shares his sentiment that the man who brought him into the world doesn’t make him his father.
His second most popular book is I Should be Dead By Now, which tells the story of his life after divorce and getting off the basketball court. Dennis also tells the story of trying to get into the Denver Nuggets after staying off the court for a while.
Dennis Rodman also wrote Walk on the Wild Side; Rebound: The Dennis Rodman Story; Words From The Worm: An Unauthorized Trip Through The Mind of Dennis Rodman; Dennis the Wild Bull.
Dennis Rodman writes creatively and intelligently, which many people found ironic, given his reputation and physical appearance. No one expected that the athlete, who dressed more like a rock star, is pretty talented on the written word.
But thanks to his innate tenacity, he consistently proved to the world that having piercings and tattoos are not determinants of a person’s full breadth of talents and skills.
What is Dennis Rodman doing?
In 2021, Dennis Rodman lived in South Florida as he had already tired from the court. His relationship with Micheal Jordan remains intact.
They had played together and built a close personal relationship as well. When Michael Jordan got a golf course but didn’t invite him over, he didn’t seem fazed by it. To that he commented, “Micheal was still Micheal.”
Despite being a significant force in the NBA during his time, the athlete’s net worth was estimated at $500,000. He earned $26 million annually while he was playing, and this amount is not inclusive of his endorsements and book royalties.
He lost most of his wealth to child support debts due to multiple divorces, battles with alcoholism, and fines he paid when he was still in the NBA.
Dennis Rodman had a tremendous athletic run and wrote entertaining, inspiring books.