Dennis Rodman was a pop culture icon throughout the 1990s with his rise to fame as the power forward for the championship-winning Chicago Bulls. The former teammate of Michael Jordan also played for several other teams, including the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. In addition to his on-the-court antics, Rodman also has a highly publicized life off the court. From dating Madonna and Carmen Electra to ditching practice to film with the WWE, Dennis seemed to take pride in defying convention (via ESPN).
Rodman’s signature multicolored hairstyles made him a standout during his time in the NBA, but one of his lesser-known titles is equally as interesting — that of father. Eccentric, troubled and sometimes reckless, Rodman isn’t the poster child of fatherhood. Nevertheless, the NBA all-star has three children; Alexis, born in 1988, and Dennis Jr. and Trinity, born in 2000 and 2001, respectively (via PopSugar).
With a famous father known for violent outbursts and bizarre behavior, Rodman’s kids have captured the attention of the public who often wonder, “What is it like to have Dennis Rodman as your dad?” Here’s what we know about Rodman’s three kids.
Alexis Rodman
Born to Rodman and his first wife, model Annie Bakes, Alexis Rodman recently called her dad a “really beautiful person” in ESPN’s Dennis Rodman: For Better or Worse. But, it wasn’t always such a great relationship.
Alexis’ mother revealed in a 1997 interview that the nine-year-old was struggling with her parents’ divorce and her father’s subsequent absence. Bakes shared, “Alexis also keeps saying to kids at school: `My daddy has girlfriends,’ and, `My daddy doesn’t come to see me.'” (via Chicago Tribune) The interview continued, “Last year, Alexis hit a girl when they were playing basketball and then she said: `Well, Daddy does it.'”
In her father’s absence, Alexis’ anger grew, and she attended anger management sessions to help her move through her intense emotions. Rodman himself was abandoned by his father at a young age and says he never really knew how to be a dad. In an intensely emotional and candid 2019 interview with ESPN, Rodman explained that he “never had anyone who wanted to [be a dad] for me and I think sometimes, ‘Why am I doing it for somebody else?'”
Today, Alexis is married and gave birth to a son, Vincent, in 2017 (via CelebrityMirror).
Dennis Rodman, Jr.
Rodman’s third wife, Michelle Moyer, gave birth to Dennis Rodman, Jr., in 2000, when his father was at the height of his notoriety. Moyer filed for divorce in 2004, just one year after their marriage. But the two tried to make it work until 2012, when they called it quits for good (via AmoMama).
Today, Dennis Jr. followed in his famous father’s footsteps and now plays college basketball at Washington State University. Rodman admitted to PageSix in 2018 that he spent more than 30 days in a rehab facility so that he could see his kids grow up. After getting a DUI earlier that year, Rodman explained, “I want to see my kids grow up. I just needed to stop partying, take a step back and get my life back in order.”
In the same interview, Rodman shared his wish to see his son play in the NBA. “Now I am getting up in age, so I felt it was time to step back and to re-evaluate my life. Like seeing my son, D.J., who is a high-school basketball star, play for the NBA.” (via PageSix)
Last June, Rodman shared a throwback photo on his Instagram of his two younger children with the caption, “Blessings.”
Trinity Rodman
Among friends, Trinity Rodman is known as the Washington State University soccer star. Trinity has played with the under-20 US Women’s National Team (USWNT) and plans to play at Washington State University, where her brother plays basketball, this coming fall (via Yahoo! Sports).
Recently, Rodman congratulated her on his Instagram page with the caption, “Congratulations to my daughter @trinity_rodman. I love you very much.” He shared a photo of her during a soccer game, along with an excerpt from an article about the USWNT (via PopCulture). Trinity was ranked as the top forward in the 2020 high school class and scored two goals in a semi-final match to help the u-20 USWNT secure a spot in the World Cup in August.
Despite the ups and downs with Rodman’s substance abuse, late-night ways, and absence, his relationship with his children seems to be vastly improved and only getting better. In 2019, Rodman told ESPN that he wants to do better, as he wiped away tears and struggled to explain his relationship with them. With sports and more to connect them, it seems likely these family bonds will only grow stronger.
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