How Angel Reese is having a Dennis Rodman effect for the Sky: Stats and play style similarities

Stephen Noh

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How Angel Reese is having a Dennis Rodman effect for the Sky: Stats and play style similarities image

There will never be another Dennis Rodman, just like there will probably never be another Angel Reese.

Both players resonate with fans because of how authentically true to themselves they are, but if we are doing the dreaded NBA-to-WNBA comparison, then Reese has shown shades of Rodman in her rookie season with the Sky.

It's still far, far too early to suggest that she could have the same Hall of Fame career, but she is helping the Sky in similar ways to how Rodman helped those old Bulls teams. She seems to think so, too.

Here's why the Reese-Rodman comparison is building steam. 

MORE: Comparing Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese's rookie seasons thus far

Angel Reese vs. Dennis Rodman stats

Angel ReeseStat (per game)Dennis Rodman
13.3Points7.3
12.9Rebounds13.1
1.8Assists1.8
1.3Steals0.7
38.4%Field goal %52.1%
18.2%3-point %23.1%
73.7%Free throw %58.4%

Angel Reese is a Dennis Rodman-level offensive rebounder

The most obvious similarity between Reese and Rodman is how dominant they are on the glass.

Rodman led the league in rebounding for seven consecutive seasons in the '90s, averaging 16.7 per game during that span. He was one of the best offensive rebounders of all time, averaging 4.8 for his career. 

To Rodman, rebounding was an art form. He would study the direction of misses, accurately predicting where the ball would come off the rim, and he would outwork anyone, tipping the ball volleyball-style over and over until he could grab it himself. 

Reese shows those same characteristics. She has a knack for getting into position right where the ball will land. She credits being able to use both hands to grab rebounds as one of her best traits. That has led her to averaging 5.2 offensive rebounds per game through her first 30 games, a shade over Rodman's career mark. 

The current record for offensive rebounds in a season is held by Yolanda Griffin with 162. She was the best offensive rebounder in NBA history, averaging 3.4 per game for her career. Reese is set to crush that mark, in part due to this year's 40-game season. She is on pace to finish with almost 200 offensive boards, which would be a mark that should stand until the next time she breaks it. 

MORE: Caitlin Clark isn't quite as turnover-prone as you think

Angel Reese is also a Dennis Rodman-level shooter

Rodman was not a great scorer during his NBA career. He could finish plays, but he only shot jumpers in order to energize the crowd and was an awful free throw shooter. 

Reese is a much better offensive player than Rodman. She can face up to the basket or post up to create shots for herself and teammates, but like Rodman, she is not a great shooter at this point in her career. She will fire the occasional jumper, and her form looks smooth. 

She's only hit on 25.8 percent of her shots past 16 feet, though, and she has missed all but two of her 3-point attempts this season. She does have much better touch on her free throws than Rodman, hitting 73.7 percent from the line. She may develop a more reliable jumper in a few years. 

Both Angel Reese and Dennis Rodman are special defenders

What made Rodman a Hall of Fame player is how versatile he was defensively. He was Draymond Green before Draymond Green, capable of locking down all five positions and switching seamlessly. Rodman was ahead of his time in that regard. 

Reese also has that special skill. She played more of a wing role in high school before moving to center at LSU and now plays primarily power forward with the Sky. She has expressed extreme confidence in her switchability, as she told CHGO's Stephen PridGeon-Garner.

"I can guard all five positions. I can switch on point guards and get steals. That's something I love to do." 

Her play has backed up that talk. Watch her lock up five-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner after switching onto her, for example. 

Reese also has great hands that she has utilized to rip guards on the perimeter, such as the Liberty's Marquesha Davis. 

Rodman made eight All-Defensive teams and was twice named Defensive Player of the Year during his 14-year career. Those are extremely high standards that would be unreasonable to ask of any rookie, but Reese does have All-Defensive potential. 

The biggest similarity between the two may be in the passion that they play with on the court. Rodman became a legend in Chicago, quickly winning over the hearts of the city after arriving in 1995.

Almost three decades later, Reese has embodied that same edge and energy in her play, making her beloved by some and hated by others. One thing is for certain: both players are going to always give everything that they have on the court. 

Stephen Noh

Stephen Noh Photo

Stephen Noh started writing about the NBA as one of the first members of The Athletic in 2016. He covered the Chicago Bulls, both through big outlets and independent newsletters, for six years before joining The Sporting News in 2022. Stephen is also an avid poker player and wrote for PokerNews while covering the World Series of Poker from 2006-2008.