Ever since leaving the Detroit Pistons and Chuck Daly’s coaching, Dennis Rodman embarked on a different basketball path.
In Detroit, he regarded the Pistons as a big family, Daly as a father, Thomas and Lambier as brothers.
He felt a familial sense of belonging at the Pistons, each night on the court he was full of energy, willing to go to battle for his coach and teammates.
His performance on the court improved as he became one of the league’s best forwards and defenders, posing a significant threat to Ah Gan with his rebounding prowess.
However, in 1993, everything changed, Rodman, like Gan Guoyang, faced a turning point in life.
Chuck Daly left the Pistons, and Rodman lost his spiritual father in basketball.
General Manager Jack McCloskey retired, the true captain of the Pistons, stepped down.
Isiah Thomas and Bill Lambier were nearing the end of their careers, and after the 1992-1993 season, they privately discussed retiring in 1994.
John Salley was traded to Miami, Mark Aguirre went to the Clippers – a star player’s graveyard, Rick Mahorn followed Daly to New Jersey, Melvin Turpin grew as heavy as two Rodmans and could only retire.
Once united like a family, the Bad Boys fell apart, once they were so invincible, now their collapse was equally lonely.
No one felt sad for their downfall, and many even took pleasure in their misfortune. Who told them to offend so many people when they were strong?
Rodman’s basketball family was broken, and so was his home off the court – his relationship with his wife Annie broke down, and their marriage lasted only 82 days.
This big boy lost his guidance and home, not knowing how to live, naturally started indulging despite his wealth and fame.
He gambled, slept with countless women, dated Madonna, refused to report to the team training camp, tattooed his body, dyed his hair in colorful shades, and even once contemplated suicide.
According to him, he did these things because he wanted to be an ordinary person.
Indeed, he was too ordinary.
The one right thing Rodman did was never touching drugs.
One night in October 1993, he drove to the underground parking lot of The Palace of Auburn Hills, the place which once brought him passion and glory.
A gun lay on the passenger seat, Rodman parked the car and pondered whether he should end his chaotic life here with the gun.
He reminisced about all that basketball and the NBA had given him, those noisy nights, the gleaming O’Brien Trophies, millions of dollars, the seductive bodies amidst lights and wine, yet Rodman felt these were all fake.
He didn’t believe in all that life had offered him; he didn’t believe in money, women, or love between people.
He thought all these would eventually leave you; they were mere fleeting moments. Once a sports career ended, people would forget you, new idols would emerge for fans to worship.
He had already experienced, felt, and tasted it, so what was there left to cling to? Nothing at all.
At that moment, Rodman’s hand reached for the gun on the passenger seat, he remembers its surface being so cold and solid, it was a pathway to another world, a scalpel to end all troubles and pain.
Rodman lifted the gun and simultaneously turned on the car radio, wanting to hear what was happening in the world at that moment.
Where wars were raging, where crimes, hunger, and disaster were occurring, whether the foolish entertainment circle was still manufacturing boring scandals, if arrogant commentators were pointing fingers at national issues, this hopeless world.
The radio suddenly broadcasted a sports news:
"News from Oregon: The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that their star Sunny Gan has decided to continue playing in the NBA. He will sign a new contract with the Trail Blazers, and in the upcoming 1993-1994 season, fans will continue to see him in a Trail Blazers jersey. After two star players’ unexpected deaths and the complete reshuffle of general manager and coaching staff, Ah Gan did not choose to retire as expected, but stayed on the court, we..."
Dennis Rodman turned off the radio and put down the gun. He didn’t understand why Ah Gan didn’t choose to retire?
Everyone thought Ah Gan would retire and leave, with seven championships, yet everything was broken and destroyed, what was there left to cling to?
This question filled Rodman’s mind, he couldn’t find an answer, and simultaneously lost interest in shooting his brains out.
Rodman drove away from The Palace of Auburn Hills, then left Detroit, heading to the once rival city of Chicago.
He secured two more rings, witnessed Ah Gan’s retirement and comeback, now standing on the floor of the Rose Garden Arena, he had no interest in the feuds and entanglements between Jordan, Pippen, and Ah Gan.
Didn’t want to get involved, didn’t want to judge, didn’t want to participate.
He felt grateful towards Ah Gan; on that night, if it weren’t for Gan Guoyang’s announcement to stay in the NBA, he might have already died in The Palace of Auburn Hills’ parking lot.
Of course, even if Gan Guoyang didn’t announce staying in the NBA, Rodman might not have died.