Chicago Bulls: 15 toughest players in franchise history

If you have made it this far, congratulations! The suspense is over and we are ready to crown our champion. With that, we are happy to announce that Dennis Rodman has been named the toughest player in Bulls franchise history in what can only be described as the most definitive, and indisputable list of such players ever created. Alright, I’m half-joking about the list.

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However, Rodman’s toughness is nothing to joke about, and if you do, then you do so at your own risk. Personally, I would not mess with a guy whose nicknames, according to Basketball-Reference include “Dennis the Menace”, “Psycho”, “Rodzilla”, “Demolition Man” and “El Loco”.

Much like the other players in our top three, Rodman’s time in Chicago was brief, but it was incredibly productive.

He was an important part of the Bulls’ second three-peat where he averaged 15.3 rebounds per game. No that is not a typo. If a shot came off the rim, it was likely going to end up in the hands of Rodman.

Rodman was a tenacious rebounder who played with a level of enthusiasm and aggressiveness that has been unmatched since he retired from the league in 2000. Even in his 14th and final NBA season, he recorded 14.3 rebounds per game.

He fought opposing players tooth and nail for every rebound and loose ball and always came out on top. There may not have been any player in NBA history better at one aspect of the game than Rodman was at rebounding.

Part of what made him so good was his willingness to play with reckless abandon and sacrifice his body to collect them. It is also what made him so tough and why he has earned the top spot in our countdown of the toughest Bulls in franchise history.