'I started bringing drag queens to games' - Dennis Rodman on why he used gay community as source of inspiration during his career

There isn't much you can say about Dennis Rodman that hasn't been said before. "The Worm" was a rebounding specialist and arguably the greatest defender ever, but that's not what grabbed headlines throughout his career and away from the court.

To this day, Rodman's eccentric personality and off-the-court antics are studied in an attempt to understand the complex psychology of one of the more unique players in league history. In what was a rollercoaster personal journey of self-discovery for Rodman, his source of inspiration came in the most unlikely of forms; the biggest one was attending gay clubs and connecting with the gay community.

Drag community inspired Rodman

After playing days, the former Chicago Bulls forward became more comfortable opening up about his social life and drama away from the game. As we know, professional sports is an incredibly demanding, cutthroat industry, which can take a toll on a player's physical and mental well-being.

Rodman needed to find inspiration and joy to keep his career stable, and in a candid interview, he revealed a surprising source of comfort and rejuvenation.

"I started going to drag clubs. I started bringing drag queens to games. When you talk to people in the gay community, someone who does drag, something like that, they're so f*cking happy. They hold their head up so high every f*cking day, man. They're not ashamed of sh*t. They're not trying to prove anything; they're just out there living their lives," he said.

Quest for self-acceptance

Based on Rodman's comments, it's clear that a large part of him was seeking an environment of self-acceptance and comfortability in his own skin.

The seven-time rebounding leader was the target of criticism for everything from dressing up as a drag queen to his relationship with Carmen Electra to his mysterious getaways to Las Vegas. Finding a community that accepted and welcomed him fully in all aspects of his personality was fulfilling at a time in his career when "The Worm" needed it the most. Ultimately, he discovered reciprocity in the gay community through open-mindedness and acceptance.

"I can't go in details (sic), but it's more like I'm just this open-minded individual that loves people...I don't have to be gay to love my gay community. My gay community loves me because I respect it. I'm not judging them, or their character, or their desire to be who they are. I don't care about that, man," the legendary forward said.

Some remember Rodman as a five-time champion who brought intangible value to his teams. Others tend to focus on his out-of-the-box character and unconventional personality as a professional athlete.

Either way, it's important to understand that although it was never always visible, Rodman craved a sense of belonging and acceptance just like the rest of us. His happiness in pursuit was just as important as his pursuit of happiness.