NBA All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony knows what it is like to take an extended break away from the game of basketball. Heck, even a three-day bender in Las Vegas is forgivable during a grinding 82-game regular-season schedule, like former Chicago Bulls power forward Dennis Rodman's stunt during the 1997-98 campaign.

Anthony, 35, told retired New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan he understands Rodman's mindset, which was highlighted in ESPN's 10-part docuseries The Last Dance a few weeks back.

Per Anthony on his “What's In Your Glass” show, via Bleacher Report:

“In basketball, playing an 82-game season,” Anthony said, “there comes a point where it's like … I'm not mad at Dennis.”

“They allowed him to do it,” Anthony said. “And also, MJ knew his personnel.”

Dennis Rodman hopped ship on the Bulls to spend time with high-profile significant other in actress and model Carmen Electra in Sin City and piecing together what was going wrong momentarily for the defending champion Chicago team. Rodman would later return refreshed and rejuvenated for the Bulls, helping them reach an incredible milestone in the form of their third consecutive title won in June 1998—their second “threepeat” in eight years.

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The Blazers forward, Anthony, was unsigned by an NBA team for essentially a year when he was benched, traded, and waived after spending a handful of games with the Houston Rockets at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and former scoring champion, signed with Portland in Nov. 2019.

Rodman led the NBA in rebounding for seven consecutive years including all three years he was with the Bulls.