For every Angel Reese action, there’s a swift reaction from fans. She knows her skills and isn’t shy about embracing those. After being compared to 5x NBA champion Dennis Rodman thanks to her rebounding prowess, the Chicago Sky rookie sported an unconventional look by donning the Worm’s jersey ahead of the highly anticipated game against the Indiana Fever. However, this quickly sparked a heated debate among fans.
As clips of Reese flaunting Rodman’s Detroit Pistons jersey circulated, fans flooded the comments. Some had nothing but praise for the rookie. “Best rebounder in the game, put some respect on her name,” a fan wrote on X. But some fans appeared to have an issue with this as well.
The comment is understandable given Reese’s current performances. She is leading the league in rebounds by averaging 12.9 rebounds per game and has a total of 399 rebounds so far. If she maintains this average for the remaining 9 games, Reese will end the season with 500+ rebounds. This will see Reese ultimately break the all-time rebound record of 404 in a single season set by Sylvia Fowles.
The Chicago Sky rookie has undeniably made history with her exceptional rebounding skills. But some fans suggested that Rodman was a far superior player and shouldn’t be compared to the Chi-Town Barbie. Let’s not forget, the rebounding king was crucial in leading the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls to multiple NBA championships.
After NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain’s remarkable 1,572 rebounds, the Worm holds the second-most rebounds in league history with 1,530. Despite being relatively short (6’7) for a Power Forward, Rodman averaged around 13.1 rebounds per game during his 14-year career. “She’s no Dennis Rodman and never will be or should be mentioned in the same breath as him,” one fan wrote.
It seems that by flaunting Rodman’s jersey, she has also channeled his spirit and energy into her game as she had just achieved her 23rd double-double against the Fever. She grabbed 11 rebounds in her latest matchup, bringing her total to 399. Reese ultimately soared past the rookie record of 398 set by Tina Charles in 2010. But the issue remains in her offensive struggles.
Angel Reese’s Dennis Rodman tribute left fans divided
Rebounding skills aren’t the only aspect the stars have in common. Rodman faced heavy criticism in the past, and netizens haven’t been particularly merciful to Reese either. Blaming it on the jersey, one netizen criticized both players, arguing that neither is good. “Should be this jersey because both are trash.”
Another fan pointed out how their offensive games mirror each other’s as well. Rodman wasn’t much useful on offense, averaging 7.3 points for his career on 52% shooting. Similarly, Reese is currently averaging 13.2 points per game but on a poor 39% shooting. So one fan wrote, “Shoots like Rodman too!”
His former teammate Steve Kerr once claimed that the Chicago Bulls legend sometimes intentionally missed shots to grab rebounds. Reese gets similar criticism too. Another fan wrote, “That fit makes me hate her even more, got I hate that.”
As previously mentioned, many, including this netizen, felt Rodman’s game shouldn’t be compared to Reese’s. She was criticized for only amassing stats for herself while her team didn’t benefit from it.
“Lowkey disrespectful to Dennis Rodman, he was a true hustler not a stat padder,” the fan wrote. While Reese broke a rookie record in the game against the Fever, the Sky lost the game. They are now 11-20 for the season, losing their last five.
The criticism probably won’t end soon, considering she is one of the top candidates in the ROTY race. However, a classic Rodman tribute is certainly a good way to lift spirits.
Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.
