“All I Knew Was I Was the First One” -Dennis Rodman Reveals His Father Had 16 Wives And 29 Kids

By Uddipta Das On Jun 21, 2023 0

Dennis Rodman had a superb career of 14 years in the NBA. He came out as a winner with five NBA Championships in 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, and 1998.

Rodman was incredibly dominant in basketball and is considered the best at getting rebounds in history. However, his life away from the court is much more fascinating than his career in the league.

Dennis Rodman on the number of children his father had

In a recent interview with ‘VladTV,’ Rodman shared that his father had 16 wives and 29 children. Yes, you read that correctly.

“All I knew was I was the first one. I was the first one, so based on that, I don’t know what he did. I heard some stories, but I read a book that he wrote about me, and he has 16 wives. 16 wives, and it was like with 29 kids, or like, I don’t know, man. I was just trying to do no research or background on him, but that’s all I heard about him. 16 wives, 29 kids. That’s what I heard,” Rodman said.

After Rodman revealed the shocking information, he was asked if he had ever met his half-brothers or half-sisters.

“I met a couple because they wanted money. He got these women coming to ask me, ‘Do you know this is your brother?’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’… They got their hands out because I’m the famous one in the whole family. So it’s like they expect me to just throw money out there,” he added.

Rodman wasn’t certain of the actual number, but he estimated that his father had 16 wives and 29 children. Rodman was the oldest of his siblings, but that didn’t make his life any easier. Despite the difficulties he had in his early years, Rodman went on to become one of the best basketball players in NBA history.

Rodman had a tough relationship with his father

Dennis’ father was named Philander Rodman. Sadly, he passed away in July 2020 because of prostate cancer. Philander was 79 years old at the time and was in the Philippines when he died. Dennis was never able to develop a close bond with his father. In 1996, Rodman openly expressed his emotional struggle regarding their distant relationship.

“I had to be my own man, my own provider. I don’t know [what my father would think about me], I don’t really consider I have a father because I don’t really know him really,” he said.

“I was three or four and I’m 34 now, going 35, and I don’t know what he’s doing. He’s in the Philippines doing something, and now he’s going around wearing my jerseys, he’s proud, and I ask myself, ‘How can someone be proud of someone which hasn’t been part of my life?’ You know, I can’t accept that,” he added.

Rodman is now 62 years old and enjoying his retirement three years after Philander’s death. Although he may have some regrets about not having a contact with his father, it is possible that he has accepted it and found peace.