When Dennis Rodman contemplated suicide after divorce with Annie Bakes: "If I got rid of that life, what options did I have?"
Dennis Rodman remains one of the most unique figures to ever grace the NBA. Between his place as a member of the Bad Boy Pistons, and his run with the Chicago Bulls in the late-1990s, Rodman's career was unlike any other. Add in the stories about his wild partying days and his relationship with North Korea's Kim Jong-Un, and "The Worm" becomes one of the most unique humans to ever live.
While the five-time NBA champion has worn many hats throughout his career, he gave fans an inside glimpse behind the curtain in his book, "Bad As I Wanna Be." While his on-court persona was one that stood out thanks to his colorful hair and his fierce competitiveness, deep down all Rodman really wanted was to blend in.
It sounds strange to say, given how flamboyant the Hall of Famer is, however, fan perception of Rodman has never been accurate. While Rodman was viewed as the bad boy of the NBA given his reputation for partying, he also donated truckloads of toys to hospitalized kids in Boston.
While the world thought Rodman had it all despite his 82-day marriage to Annie Bakes falling apart after their five-year relationship, he was contemplating suicide. In his autobiography, he recalls sitting in his pickup truck with a gun, thinking about his life as a husband and NBA superstar:
“And if I got rid of that life, what options did I have? I could have gone off and been a nine-to-five guy who would have been happier and would have had fewer problems. My bank account would have suffered, but I would have been able to walk the streets as a normal person. That’s all I was looking for.
"The other option I considered was to keep doing what I was doing and try to fool people into believing I was something that I wasn’t. Then, I thought of a third option: Live a normal life, stay true to myself, and stay exactly where I am. I sat in that pickup and had a duel with myself. I didn’t need the gun; it all took place in my mind.”
You can see him discussing his loneliness and boredom with basketball in a separate interview from 2011 after his stint on VH1's S"ober House."
Dennis Rodman's community work regarding mental health
Given how much Dennis Rodman has been through in his life, from childhood abuse to being homeless as a teenager, it's great to see him trying to help others. In addition to his quiet selfless acts like donating toys to kids in Boston’s Children’s Hospital during his career, Rodman has continued to help others.
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His long list of charitable contributions over the years includes donations to the 100 Club of Chicago, Boys and Girls Foundation and March of Dimes. For Dennis Rodman, it goes beyond just making monetary donations, however.
This year, he appeared on a panel where he spoke about mental health, saying that he loves giving back through resources he didn't have as a kid.
Above, you can view his talk about mental health at the 2022 REVOLT Summit.
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