When Shaquille O’Neal and Dennis Rodman joined forces on the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999, many expected that the pairing of two NBA legends would result in a formidable team.

Shaq, the dominant force in the paint, and Rodman, the rebounding machine, seemed on paper to be a match made in basketball heaven.

However, the reality of their partnership turned out to be far from the expected success.

In a recent discussion, Shaquille O’Neal reflected on his time with Rodman during an episode of his podcast, sharing some candid thoughts on why he found it challenging to be teammates with the eccentric forward.

O’Neal didn’t hold back in revealing that Rodman’s behavior often clashed with the team’s expectations, particularly when it came to discipline and focus.

Rodman was notorious for showing up late to team meetings, a habit that frustrated O’Neal and likely many others within the organization.

But it wasn’t just the tardiness that irked Shaq. Rodman would often arrive at meetings, already late, only to eat his meal in front of everyone, seemingly indifferent to what the coach was discussing.

Despite these issues, Rodman always delivered on his role by securing rebounds, which was his primary task for the Lakers.