Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:30 pm EDT

Phil Jackson: Rodman is the greatest athlete I've ever coached

By J.E. Skeets

Phil Jackson sure had plenty to say during a speech to the University of North Dakota as part of the convocation in which he received an honorary degree. Of the course of an hour, P-Jax criticized his school's nickname, told funny stories about Shaq swimming, and picked Dennis Rodman as the greatest athlete he ever coached. From the OC Register: "[Rodman] could probably play a 48-minute game and play the 48th minute stronger than the first minute of the game," Jackson told the crowd at UND. "He was that terrific an athlete." Video "proof," after the jump.

(via SLAM and Dime)

digg delicious
more

1689 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Elva G s mom
    1. Posted by Elva G's mom Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Elva ... what I have always said. You disappoint me and never call me anymore.
  2. redreturn 08
    2. Posted by redreturn 08 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Phil must have forgot about someo other players he's coached-- Rodman? I liked watching him, but he just rebounded. He was in lots of foul trouble often, went and sat the bench, and that is why he was more refreshed at the end of a game than Jordan... what do you expect?
  3. travisf
    3. Posted by travisf Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bye Bye Elva.
  4. the REAL Headless Chicken
    4. Posted by the REAL Headless Chicken Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Rodman was the greatest athlete. He just wasn't the best basketball player. But that's a different piece of paper. And he did not "just rebound". K.D.?
  5. DennardC
    5. Posted by DennardC Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Rodman definitely was one of the best pure athletes ever in the NBA and he would have excelled in any era. On the court that is.
  6. the REAL Headless Chicken
    6. Posted by the REAL Headless Chicken Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Red, you probably question Kevin Garnett's intensity as well.
  7. Jason
    7. Posted by Jason Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Rodman needs to be in the HOF
  8. kevin k
    8. Posted by kevin k Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    redreturn- rodman wasnt just a 1-dimensional rebounder such as ben wallace or reggie evans, he could play. remember, he played in a triangle offense with the bulls, where you cant just sit there waiting for rebounds. He also hit some clutch mid range jumpshots and freethrows where he put his arms like "what happened?" motion, but he could hit those. Also he guarded anyone from a pg to Shaq and shut them down. the worm and the dream were the only ones who ever shut shaq down and that is saying something
  9. Devine
    9. Posted by Devine Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Not to shortchange Rodman, who was a player the likes of which we probably won't see again, but any chance this is Phil losing his fastball in an attempt at Kobe motivation? Seems like the kind of nonsense the Zenmaster would toss out there, apropos of nothing.
  10. mark i
    10. Posted by mark i Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Rodman was a physical freak. Five inches and 40 pounds smaller than most of the guys who were fighting for the ball, he still came down with the rebound more often than anyone else during his prime. For Rodman (and Charles Barkley) that kind of play shouldn't be possible. But Rodman kept himself in great shape and was one of the sharpest minds in the NBA...probably the best at guessing where a shot was going to end up as it left the shooter's hand.
    Could he shoot or pass? Not so much. But Rodman had the perfect physique for what he did and dedicated himself to the art of defense.
    And he was completely nuts.
  11. A Yahoo! User
    11. Posted by A Yahoo! User Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I agree to this statement... I heard stories about his training regiment... Even though he seemed very foolish at times, He was also one of the smartest basketball player I have ever seen... If I had a team with a legit all-around superstar and I had to pick a roll player, he would certainly be at the top of my list anytime of the day... I mean c'mon.. Who can u find nowadays around 6'7'' thats smart enough to run the Triangle offense smoothly, average about 18 rebounds a game n completely shutdown monsters like Shaq on the block? I'd have to deal wit the craziness though...lol
  12. KD
    12. Posted by KD Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    World Class. That was his first, and probably best, nickname.
    He did not just rebound. And he still the only guy I've ever seen who has guarded, and shut down, every position on the basketball court. God I miss watching him.
  13. chacharles
    13. Posted by chacharles Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I totally agree with P-Jax. I'd think he'd excel in any sport you put him in. Kind of like Allen Iverson
  14. Ty
    14. Posted by Ty Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:26 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Can a 47-year-old Rodman be of any worth in today's league? I say yes.
  15. ld
    15. Posted by ld Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    How many players have you watched on defense, honestly? Maybe it was because of his eccentric look, but the only player who i ever watched on d was Rodman. And he was never someone who took the stupid foul, except the technical kind. So yeah, i would have to agree with Phil.
  16. prut
    16. Posted by prut Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I know this may sound odd but Rodman was my favorite player on any team that he was in. I mean I can't stop watching him, and not just because of his hair. But what he does?! At that height. MAN. Just imagine the physical gifts that he had. And BTW, Rodman can score. He just fools other players that he cant. Why would you try to score so much when u have Isiah/Robinson/Jordan on your team?
  17. rightsaidfred
    17. Posted by rightsaidfred Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    And Carmen Electra is the greatest athlete that Dennis Rodman has ever coached.
  18. Ryan C
    18. Posted by Ryan C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Rodman was/is odd, but you can't deny his talent. If he would of kept the dress in the closet, he probably would of made tons of money.
  19. garry p
    19. Posted by garry p Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    back on the weed
  20. Chronron
    20. Posted by Chronron Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I wonder if Phil hit the peace pipe before his speech?
  21. greg c
    21. Posted by greg c Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    That isn't surprising, Rodman was an animal!!
  22. Not Miley Cyrus FAN
    22. Posted by Not Miley Cyrus FAN Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Rodman is wayyyyyyyyy better than Miley Cyrus!
  23. Nathan W
    23. Posted by Nathan W Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I specifically remember a game with the Bulls in which Rodman scored 39 points. That's not just a fluke. If flukes like that happened, you'd see guys like James Posey or Bonzi Wells dropping the occasional 39...but that's not the case. Rodman played how he wanted to play, and when he needed to, he would score.
  24. erikg
    24. Posted by erikg Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    anyone who can go 12 rounds with Carmen Electra must be a top athelete....
  25. Booker T
    25. Posted by Booker T Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    P-JAX? Really? God, I hate my generation.

Ball Don't Lie

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

J.E. Skeets

Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Kelly Dwyer, Rod Benson, Trey Kerby, Nick Friedell, Garbage Time All-Stars, Blair Johnson,

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

More NBA Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Ball Don't Lie Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)