Michael Jordan Once Tracked Down Dennis Rodman During His Wild Vegas Escape

June 5, 1998; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan in game two of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Anne Ryan-USA TODAY Anne Ryan-USA TODAY

Michael Jordan Once Tracked Down Dennis Rodman During His Wild Vegas Escape

Originally posted on AirJordanChronicles | By Joy Bassy | Last updated May 27, 2026 1:10 AM ET

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While Dennis Rodman was the perfect defender for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, he used to go to unimaginable lengths to make life chaotic for them, and especially for himself. But we believe that’s just how he wanted it.

The most infamous example dates back to the 1997-98 season, when Rodman wanted to take a vacation after putting in twice the work on the hardwood following Scottie Pippen’s injury.

After somehow convincing both Jordan and HC Phil Jackson to let him go on a 48-hour trip to Las Vegas, the player-coach duo would soon regret this decision as Jordan literally had to travel to Vegas himself to get his rebounder back to the court.

“He did not come back on time. We had to go get his a** out of bed, and I’m not going to say what’s in his bed, where he was, blah, blah, blah.” Jordan said in The Last Dance series on Netflix.

In 1998, Michael Jordan led the #Bulls to 62 wins despite Scottie Pippen missing 38 games & Dennis Rodman went missing in Vegas.

The #Bulls were the oldest team in the league and still won the championship. pic.twitter.com/13VCYtI5pY
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@Bullsfans) June 9, 2023

During that time, Rodman was also famously in a relationship with Carmen Electra, and the vacation quickly extended from two days to four days.

And when Rodman failed to arrive at the promised time, Electra recalled a furious Michael Jordan arriving at their hotel door.

“I had no idea of all the behind-the-scenes drama. I had no idea Michael Jordan was freaking out, I was hungover, and we were n**** on the floor. Dennis gets up to answer, and there’s Michael Jordan. I got up and tried to hide. I knew Dennis was in trouble. That was a big deal and a shock to me.” Electra revealed.

After returning from the trip, it took Rodman time to adjust to his role following Pippen’s 35-day absence. But it was business as usual for the Bulls after this instance.

The Chicago Bulls Overcame Dennis Rodman’s Shenanigans

Rodman ended up playing 80 games that season, missing only two thanks to his Vegas trip. At 36 years old, he led the league in rebounds and won his seventh and last rebounding title, becoming the oldest player in the league in that category.

The Bulls went on to win their third straight championship and sixth overall title of the Michael Jordan era.

During their final title run, Rodman’s impact was at its full capacity, playing in all 21 playoff games, averaging 4.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

This officially ended the Bulls dynasty for good, as Michael Jordan retired for the second time in his career. Scottie Pippen moved to the Houston Rockets, and Phil Jackson took a break until taking over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Meanwhile, Dennis Rodman played two additional seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks before hanging up his jersey for good.

So, do you think we will ever see a more iconic dynasty than the 90s Chicago Bulls?

This article first appeared on AirJordanChronicles and was syndicated with permission.

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