When Shaquille O’Neal and Dennis Rodman joined forces on the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999, many expected that the pairing of two NBA legends would result in a formidable team. Shaq, the dominant force in the paint, and Rodman, the rebounding machine, seemed on paper to be a match made in basketball heaven. However, the reality of their partnership turned out to be far from the expected success.

In a recent discussion, Shaquille O’Neal reflected on his time with Rodman during an episode of his podcast, sharing some candid thoughts on why he found it challenging to be teammates with the eccentric forward. O’Neal didn’t hold back in revealing that Rodman’s behavior often clashed with the team’s expectations, particularly when it came to discipline and focus.

Rodman was notorious for showing up late to team meetings, a habit that frustrated O’Neal and likely many others within the organization. But it wasn’t just the tardiness that irked Shaq. Rodman would often arrive at meetings, already late, only to eat his meal in front of everyone, seemingly indifferent to what the coach was discussing. Despite these issues, Rodman always delivered on his role by securing rebounds, which was his primary task for the Lakers.

But for O’Neal, this wasn’t enough to overlook Rodman’s off-court antics. The Hall of Famer recounted how Rodman’s priorities seemed elsewhere, particularly after games. While most players would take time to clean up, Rodman had a different routine. He would head straight to the club in his game attire, skipping a shower, and yet, somehow, still managed to attract attention from models. O’Neal humorously expressed his disbelief at how Rodman, despite his unkempt post-game appearance and smell, could still be the center of attention in the nightlife scene.

Shaq did not get along with Rodman

This behavior, while amusing in hindsight, showed the underlying tension between the two stars. O’Neal, who was focused on winning and maintaining a professional image, found it hard to reconcile with Rodman’s carefree attitude.

The 1999 season, despite the high hopes, didn’t pan out as expected for the Lakers. While Rodman delivered on the boards, averaging 11.2 rebounds per game, and Shaq continued to dominate with 26.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, their efforts weren’t enough to propel the Lakers to the championship. The team, led by O’Neal and a young Kobe Bryant, struggled to find cohesion, ultimately falling short in the playoffs, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round.

Rodman’s stint with the Lakers was brief and tumultuous, and it highlighted the challenges of integrating his unique personality into a team with championship aspirations. The partnership that seemed promising at the outset quickly fizzled, leaving O’Neal and the Lakers to ponder what could have been had things played out differently.

In the end, the Shaq-Rodman experiment serves as a reminder that not all superstars can mesh well together, even when the potential seems limitless. The Lakers would eventually find success in the coming years, but the 1999 season stands as an interesting footnote in the careers of two of the NBA’s most colorful characters.