As his career was marking the final stages, Dennis Rodman, signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1998. The veteran’s career was over after only 23 games with the Lakers because the front office opted to terminate the contract with him.
One of the best rebounders of all time in the NBA community, Dennis Rodman is an iconic figure to many who also earned fame as an expert power forward. While Rodman and O’Neal played 16 games against each other, there had been many instances of altercations between them since both the players seems to be slightly fiery when on the floor.
When Big Diesel was asked in The Big Podcast with Shaq, who was his worst teammate, he uttered the name of the two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner without hesitation. “He [Dennis Rodman] was a great player, but he made it hard,” said the Lakers prime in his podcast, “we had to be there an hour before the game. He’d come in 15 minutes before the game eating chicken and rice. While the coaches are talking, he would jump in the shower. Cold shower. Come and give you 15-20 rebounds,” he added.
The Purple and Golden frontcourt duo of O’Neal and Rodman are perhaps the finest in the NBA. But for Shaq, the experience is somewhat unpleasing which put the tag of “worst teammate” on Rodman, “The Worm.”
Conversely, to the utmost shock of his fans, Rodman opinioned Big Shamrock as a “good guy” and gave words to his admiration for Shaq, “Shaquille became this poster boy for big guys. You know the big and tall poster boy. And you know he’s a big kid in a big man’s body and a good guy you know.”
Though both the legendary players had several disputes while playing for the Lakers, Rodman claimed in an interview he got along “pretty good” with O’Neal.
