CHICAGO — There’s an added bonus to signing with the Chicago Bulls for Tristan Thompson— playing for the same team that Dennis Rodman did.
Throughout his NBA career, Thompson said he idolized Rodman for his tenacity and fixation on the overlooked — defense, turnovers, rebounds — details that can make or break a team.
In his 11th year in the league, Thompson doesn’t aim to be a star or even a starter. He just wants to play like the Worm.
“He was the first person I believe in this league in NBA history to be a star in their role,” Thompson said. “I remember saying that exact quote, saying ‘be a star in a role’ when we were on those runs in Cleveland, making those championship runs. He was definitely the definition of being a star in a role and that was something that I wanted to embody in my game.”
Thompson has yet to meet Rodman, although his new position with the Bulls could help that connection happen.
“I got the IG follow though,” Thompson said. “So that’s dope.”
(For the record, it doesn’t appear that Rodman is currently following Thompson’s official Instagram account.)
Although their positions are slightly different — Rodman was a forward, Thompson is a center — Thompson said he took inspiration from the former Bulls star’s ability to balance a bullying style with the finesse to pick pockets. He watched five-minute highlight reels of Rodman’s best defensive efforts before every 2016 playoff game as the Cavaliers rumbled to a title.
“The fact that I’m able to put on a Chicago Bulls jersey and just go out there and try to make Dennis proud — that’s all I’m trying to do,” Thompson said. “I look up to the way he played. Everything he did, I look up to.”
In his Bulls debut Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks, Thompson played with another visible factor — joy. He bellowed at the crowd after slamming down a dunk and tackled DeMar DeRozan after the game with a beaming smile.
Rookie Ayo Dosunmu said Thompson’s leadership came with a buoyant energy, uplifting his teammates as he offered advice. Thompson is known for being vocal, chirping at his teammates through every play and pulling players aside for quick debriefs when he is on the bench.
With a strong slate of veterans on the roster and two-thirds of the season in the books, this type of guidance could be off-putting for an established team. But DeRozan said Thompson already struck a balance that helped fold himself into the Bulls’ dynamic.
“Even when he was in practice (Wednesday) night, things that he (saw) he’d chime in and correct right away,” DeRozan said. “He understands the game. He has a championship. He’s played on great teams. So he see a lot of things and jumped on it right away. He’s not hesitated to speak up and that’s a true leader”
On a team like the Bulls — who are already operating at a high level behind a trio of All-Star-level talent — Thompson needs to maximize his role as a bench player in brief but impactful stretches of play.
Thompson won’t be a replacement for Nikola Vučević, but he can be a complement. Thursday night showcased how a more physical, paint-oriented style of center like Thompson adds a new layer to the Bulls, especially with the team still struggling to protect the rim.
Even off the bench Thompson will have his work cut out as the Bulls enter the second-hardest schedule in the league to end the season. While offensive contributions like his 11 points against the Hawks will help round out the team’s scoring, Thompson’s leadership and defense will be even more critical.
Thompson said he’s ready for that challenge — and ready to become a leader. In the meantime, he has another request for the Bulls.
“They need to retire (Rodman’s) number,” Thompson said. “They need to retire that 91.”
