"When you factor size, I don't know how you could say there's ever been a better rebounder" - Chuck Daly said Dennis Rodman is the rebounding GOAT

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Dennis Rodman had plenty of voids in his offensive game. However, he still carved himself a very successful career, winning five NBA championships in 14 years. Despite being an undersized forward, Rodman went on to lead the league in rebounds for seven seasons. As a result, Chuck Daly went as far as to say ‘The Worm’ was the greatest rebounder in NBA history, surpassing the likes of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.

Daly on Rodman

Although Rodman’s career average of 13.1 boards pales in comparison to Russell’s 22.5 and Wilt’s 22.9 rebounds per game, Daly sided with Dennis in this discussion.

Having won two championships with Rodman during his time with the Detroit Pistons, Daly picked the Hall of Famer because he faced a tougher challenge every night than the aforementioned legendary big men.

“Wilt was just bigger and stronger than everyone,” Daly said. “Russell was built more along the lines of Dennis, but he didn’t have to go up against power forwards and centers as big as the ones Dennis has to face night after night. When you factor size into the equation, I don’t know how you could say there’s ever been a better rebounder.”

Dennis and an incredible bond with Chuck Daly

Although Rodman’s antics were often deemed questionable, and he faced a certain level of aversion because of that as well, Daly chose to approach him differently. The latter ensured that ‘The Worm’ was treated with respect and consistently provided him with guidance as a mentor, earning him the status of a ‘father figure’ in the forward’s eyes.

In a previous interview, ‘Dennis the Menace’ commended the former Bad Boys Pistons head coach for treating him like a ‘man.’

“I just think that he let me just be a man more than anything, you know,” Rodman said. “Because when you are around men, especially in basketball, it elevates your whole lifestyle.”

It’s safe to say that Daly’s patient approach toward the eccentric forward allowed him to embrace his strengths and evolve into one of the league’s most dominant defenders. The same can be said about his rebounding prowess, especially for a guy of his stature.