Jason Whitlock disagrees with fans saying Angel Reese is the WNBA’s Dennis Rodman. [photo: Whitlock IG, Reese IG, Rodman IG]

Angel Reese leads the WNBA in rebounding, averaging 11.8 caroms per game, but with limited offensive skills. Over her last 17 games, 15 of which were consecutive double-doubles, she has averaged 13.4 RPG. Reese’s playing style has invited comparisons to the legendary Dennis Rodman.

“The Worm,” who won five NBA championships, carved a Hall of Fame career with his rebounding and defense. He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and a staggering seven-time rebounding champ even if he was undersized. Rodman, like Reese, was also a home crowd favorite.

Jason Whitlock said on Saturday that Angel Reese shouldn’t be considered for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. He emphasized that the Chicago Sky forward was too “unskilled offensively” but conceded she was a “nice rebounder.”

A fan responded to Whitlock’s comment by saying that there was nothing wrong with being a “Dennis Rodman.” The veteran journalist didn’t let that pass by responding:

“She’s not Dennis Rodman. Rodman was the NBA’s 1 or 2 best defenders for a decade. He got MVP votes.”

Angel Reese is still a rookie and she might be on the Rodman trajectory. But to definitely say she is there already, based on that fan’s reaction, is inaccurate.

Whitlock was right when he asserted that Dennis Rodman was arguably the NBA’s best defender for a decade. The former “Bad Boy” also received MVP votes in four straight seasons (1992, 1994-1996). Rodman was in contention for the NBA Finals MVP in 1996, an award that Michael Jordan snared. Reese could end up having this type of career but not so right now.

Angel Reese and Dennis Rodman don’t mind playing the role of a villain

During his heydays, nobody was a bigger villain than Dennis Rodman. During his days with the Detroit Pistons, he was a big reason why the Chicago Bulls struggled against them in the playoffs. When he went to the Bulls’ side, he was a thorn in the side of Chicago’s opponents.

Seattle SuperSonics legend Shawn Kemp admitted they had no answer for Rodman in the 1996 NBA Finals. Besides his rebounding and clutch plays, the tattooed menace kept getting into their heads. Kemp thought Rodman should have been named the Finals MVP instead of Michael Jordan.

Angel Reese is in the same vein. In an interview with ESPN during her final year at LSU, she said that she didn’t mind the criticism. Reese added that ‘I’ll take the villain role.” She is unapologetically unapologetic, a reason she is such a polarizing figure.

In the Sky-Fever game in mid-June, Reese embraced that role once more. Ahead of her showdown with Caitlin Clark, she wore customized “Joker” themed Reebok shoes. Playing the role of a villain is already something she has down pat. Even Dennis Rodman would be proud of that.