Lakers Tired Of Worm's Antics
Dennis Rodman says the Los Angeles Lakers need him to succeed. Some of his teammates aren't so sure.
"We can't afford another distraction from him," guard Derek Harper said in this week's edition of Newsweek magazine. "I'm not management, but if it happened again, that would be it."
Rodman has been late for practices and squabbled with coach Kurt Rambis. He also missed four games on a recent road trip because of undisclosed personal reasons.
He was ejected Saturday night against Golden State, his two technical fouls increasing his season's total to 11. The rest of the team has 12 technicals.
"We get called a party team all the time, and that's not what all of us do," Kobe Bryant told Newsweek. "Some of us take this seriously."
Rodman told the magazine he is the only one who can lead Los Angeles to the NBA championship. The Lakers (22-12) are second to Portland in the Pacific Division.
"They depend on me to keep this ship afloat," he said. "It's amazing to me that a person who doesn't score, doesn't make Michael Jordan-type moves, is expected to come in and win a championship for a team in total disarray. Am I a genius? Am I a miracle worker? Am I God? No but I have a gift."
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