Persecuted Rodman said Pop 'hated my guts' Rodman said Spurs 'looked at me like I was the devil'

Spurs forward Dennis Rodman flies through the air to pull in a rebound in the first quarter of the opening-round playoff series against the Nuggets in Denver on May 1, 1995. Spurs forward Dennis Rodman flies through the air to pull in a rebound in the first quarter of the opening-round playoff series against the Nuggets in Denver on May 1, 1995. Photo: David Zalubowski /Associated Press Photo: David Zalubowski /Associated Press Image 1 of / 84 Caption Close Persecuted Rodman said Pop 'hated my guts' 1 / 84 Back to Gallery

Dennis Rodman's tumultuous two-season stint in San Antonio apparently has provided a few mental scars for the Basketball Hall of Famer.

Rodman told Joe Buck on his interview program "Undeniable" that his two-season relationship with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, then the team's general manager, was not good and eroded the longer he stayed in San Antonio.

"The city kind of embraced me, but what's his name, Popovich, he hated me," Rodman said. "He hated my guts because I wasn't a bible guy. They looked at me like I was the devil."

Late in his time in San Antonio, Rodman said he tried to mend his relationship with Popovich and his teammates.

"With Pop, I've got to be cool until I started acting out again," Rodman said. "It was kind of like they don't want me here."

Rodman was a huge part of the Spurs' 1994-95 team that won a then franchise-record 62 games under Bob Hill before it was eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by Houston. The No. 6 seed Rockets then won their second of back-to-back championships.

While on the show, Rodman complained that he felt like a victim during his latter stages in San Antonio. He remained on the team until he was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Will Perdue after the 1995 playoffs.

"I said my god," Rodman said. "Am I the same guy that helped get David Robinson a scoring title and MVP? Am I the same guy that averaged 19.3 rebounds per game for you. And I the same guy we won 68 damn games? Am I that same guy, but you guys don't like me?" Rodman said.

"So I said, 'OK, trade me,'" he said. "They traded me to the damn Bulls."

Rodman's numbers are a little off. The Spurs never won more than 62 games when he played for them and his highest rebounding average was 17.3 rebounds per game in 1993-94.

During Rodman's three years with the Bulls, the Michael Jordan-led team claimed NBA titles in each of the three seasons.

Here's an entire clip of Rodman's interview with Buck.

Tgriffin@express-news.net

Twitter: @TimGriffinBig12