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NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman will always be remembered for his stints with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls — where he won his five NBA titles. All in all, “The Worm” played for three other NBA franchises which include a rather forgettable one-year stint with the Dallas Mavericks in the 1999-2000 season.
In true Rodman fashion, the 6-foot-7 controversial slotman chose an interesting jersey number upon his arrival in Dallas. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year wanted to wear no. 69, which then NBA commissioner David Stern understandably vetoed. Rodman went with number 70 instead.
Per Marc Stein of The York Times, Cuban's purchase of the Mavs has yet to be ratified at the time. However, he still possesses some of Rodman's printed no.69 jerseys today.
In subsequent tweets, Stein also revealed the extent of Rodman's famed work ethic while in Dallas, as well as the events that led to his exit with the team.
On one morning Don Nelson scrapped shootaround, Dirk Nowitzki was working out with shot doctor Holger Gescwindner when Rodman strolled in. Dennis went from basket to basket at the Landry Center hurling the ball as hard as he could at the glass to work on rebounding … by himself
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 27, 2020
Rodman liked to shower before games (often while Nellie gave instructions) and skip showers afterward to lift weights. He got ejected twice in 12 games, suspended once for sitting on the floor and averaged 11.2 RPG over 29 of the longest days in team (and beat writing) history
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 27, 2020
Last straw: After a loss that dropped Dallas to 3-9, Rodman blasted Cuban for being too close to the team "like Jerry Jones" and ripped virtually everyone on the roster by saying the Mavs needed “a backup center, a starting center, a true power forward, a couple of guards”
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 27, 2020
Dennis Rodman only played 12 games for Dallas but made a real difference despite already being 38 years old at the time. He averaged a whopping 14.3 rebounds during that stretch and even shot a career-best 71.4 percent from the foul line.
That season with the Mavericks proved to be Rodman's final year in the NBA. He also had brief stints with the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. The rebounding menace took his act overseas and retired from professional basketball in 2006.
Although we never saw it officially on the hardwood, that no. 69 will indeed be one of the most valuable uniforms that never was.
