3 things NBA fans want to see from Dennis Rodman's '48 Hours in Vegas' movie 

#2 Dennis Rodman's state of mind before and after the vacation request

Dennis Rodman talks to Phil Jackson [Photo via Phil Velasquez courtesy Chicago Sun Times]

For Dennis Rodman to request time off in the middle of the 1998 NBA Finals, he must have been having difficulty dealing with some issues outside of the basketball court.

The NBA and other sports have just recently been made more aware of the importance of mental health. '48 Hours in Vegas' could give fans and the NBA as an organization a look into the mind of one of the most disturbed individuals ever to set foot on the court.

Dennis Rodman on playing his role 💯“I do my job — I get paid to go out there & rebound & kick people’s asses.I don’t have to prove a point to nobody.” pic.twitter.com/VAMR81ELwN

— Jaycob Ammerman (@Jammer2233) July 18, 2019

Phil Jackson understood the way Dennis Rodman’s mind worked almost more than anyone in the league. So he gave the seven-time rebounding champion a longer leash than perhaps any other player he had ever coached. The film could give the league greater insight into the best way in dealing with talented but troubled players who are constantly bombarded with attention from the media.

Moreover, it would be interesting to know what the time off in Las Vegas did to free Rodman’s mind of the clutter and how it helped him perform better on the basketball court. A more detailed interview would greatly help, not just the league, but also the players today, about what an escape from the pressures of a high-profile job can do for them.

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#1 How much respect Dennis Rodman had for Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan (#23) pulls Dennis Rodman (#91) aside during the 1997-98 season [Photo by Fred Jewell/Associated Press]

How can a film about one of Michael Jordan’s teammates be as interesting without His Airness in it? Of course, we want more Jordan material, and Bulls fans are going to be excited to hear more stories about the five-time MVP, even if he would only appear in it for a few brief moments.

Specifically, Dennis Rodman’s respect for his fearless leader would be a captivating insight into why Rodzilla was willing to subjugate himself to someone who used to be a mortal enemy during his Detroit Pistons days.

"I need a vacation..."#TheLastDance continues Sunday, April 26 at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/fIiLZ75J7q

— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2020

The fact that Dennis Rodman respected the Chicago Bulls legend enough to follow his lead says a lot about the kind of leadership that Michael Jordan displayed. It would be a fabulous study into leaders who are able to adapt to the needs of their best and highest-performing workers regardless of the industry they belong to.

Much has been said about the difference in leadership styles between Jordan and LeBron James', for example. Whereas James’ leadership style promotes camaraderie and a family atmosphere, Jordan’s is more demanding and result-oriented. Could James’ style work well with a flamboyant and free-spirited individual like Dennis Rodman? Who’s to say it will or won’t work out?

Perhaps we’ll find out from '48 Hours in Vegas' how Jordan was able to earn Dennis Rodman’s respect and how his methods can be transferable to ways of leading different individuals.

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