2. Detroit Pistons: Feb. 18, 1992
Most of the best regular season games that Rodman had in his career in terms of individual stats and efficiency came during his seven-year run with the Pistons. And potentially the most efficient that he had during his regular season run in a Pistons uniform came during the 1991-92 campaign. That was a point when the Pistons were on the way down in the East.
In one particular came in the latter portion of the 1991-92 regular season, Rodman and the Pistons met the struggling Orlando Magic. This was before all-time great center Shaquille O’Neal was picked up by the new franchise in south Florida. The Pistons were struggling by their usual standard too, carrying a record of 29-22 into this mid-February meeting. Meanwhile, the Magic entered with a dismal record of 13-38.
Rodman would get the start for the Pistons, but only play in 29 minutes. He finished up this eventual victory for the Pistons with 18 points, a game-high 27 rebounds, five assists, and one block. He also shot two-of-three from beyond the arc (which was not usual for Rodman). His efficiency was just off the charts in this game. He registered a box plus/minus rating of 19.5, 173 offensive rating, 79 defensive rating, 43.8 rebounding percentage, and 90.0 true shooting percentage.
The Pistons were ousted in the Eastern Conference Finals by the talented New York Knicks during the 1992 playoffs. Their run as the top team in the East was officially over once the NBA started entering the early-to-mid 1990’s. That’s when the Bulls run would truly start, and soon to be when Rodman would land with the Spurs and then in Chicago.