KEY POINTS

  • Bulls legend Toni Kukoc recalled the only time he partied with Dennis Rodman
  • Kukoc said he couldn't keep up with Rodman and needed several days to recover afterwards
  • The Croatian concluded that Rodman wasn't able to find the balance in his life

Former Chicago Bulls star Toni Kukoc talked about the one and only party he had with former teammate Dennis Rodman in a rare interview.

Originally drafted in 1990, Kukoc made his debut with the Bulls in 1993, the following season after Michael Jordan led the team to copping its first three-peat.

After two years in Chicago, Kukoc crossed paths with Rodman, who joined the Bulls in 1995.

Kukoc and Rodman weren’t the best of friends in the ‘90s Bulls squad, but the former once partied with “Worm” at the time.

In one of his older interviews from his home country, Croatia, Kukoc admitted that he never wanted to party with Rodman again because of the hangover he suffered the following day.

“It’s a special type of story, and I couldn’t keep up with him,” Kukoc said of Rodman. “I partied only once with him because, after that, you need a seven to 10 days recovery period afterward. ”

Rodman was never shy about his partying during his time with the Bulls and Kukoc witnessed it first-hand. Based on his recollection, Rodman went hard that night and kept the bar open for everybody in the place.

“There were four of us out, and the first thing he ordered for a drink was 40 shots of vodka and ten beers,” the former Bull recalled. “I asked him if there are more people coming, and he just said ‘it’s important to keep the bar open.’ Everybody who was at the bar that night, he had free food and drinks on Rodman. ”

Ultimately, Kukoc saw a “great person” in Rodman. However, he also felt bad that the then-NBA bad boy didn’t know his limitations.

“He is a great person that was great for everybody else, rather than himself, because he couldn’t find the right balance,” he stated.

Dennis Rodman
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman is planning to launch a topless women's basketball team. REUTERS

Rodman is well aware that his excessive drinking is one of his “demons.” However, there’s something worse than alcohol which still hunts the former NBA star to this day.

"We all have demons,” Rodman told ESPN earlier this year. “I've had plenty. Alcohol is one of them--everyone knows that. But I think the only major demon I have right now is trying to convince myself that I am a good dad. That's the worst one for me.”

“And it's so hard for me for some reason,” he continued. “It's very hard for me to break out of that cycle, you know. You feel like it's too late. It's one of those things where I never had anyone ever want [to love me]. ”