Dennis Rodman, the eccentric five-time NBA champion, has left fans awed both on and off the court. But behind the outlandish personality lies a deeply emotional man. Ahead of his 2019 ESPN documentary Rodman: For Better or Worse, he opened up about battling the “major demon” of fatherhood.
“Trying to convince myself that I’m a good dad” wasn’t just a challenge—it was a deeply personal fight.
Rodman’s journey as a father mirrors the ups and downs of his career. While relationships with his children were strained for years, the Bulls legend seems determined to close those gaps. Rodman shares three kids with two different partners. His eldest, Alexis, is from his first marriage with Annie Bakes.
Meanwhile, his youngest two, Dennis “D.J.” Jr. and Trinity, are the children of his third wife, Michelle Moyer. Following in their father’s footsteps, D.J. and Trinity are carving their own paths as talented athletes, keeping the Rodman legacy alive. So let’s know more about them.
Alexis Rodman
Speaking of Alexis, Rodman and Annie Bakes have quite a rocky history. They started dating in 1987, and just a year later, their daughter was born on September 28, 1988. The relationship was no smooth ride—constant breakups eventually led to a brief marriage in 1992 that lasted a mere 82 days. However, Alexis became the anchor in their stormy relationship.
On The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996, Rodman shed some of his hard shell, growing emotional as he spoke about Alexis, who was just eight years old at the time. But the cracks between father and daughter grew wider over time, and years later, he admitted to Oprah, during a 2013 interview, that he had only recently reconnected with a 24-year-old Alexis after being apart for years.
“I was so shocked, I didn’t know how to act,” Rodman recalled.
That long-overdue reunion became the turning point. He spent an entire day with Alexis, just listening to her talk about her life. For Rodman, her words hit deeply: “She wants to really be my daughter now.” But, it’s hard to picture Dennis Rodman as a grandfather, but that’s exactly the role he took on in June 2017.
Alexis tied the knot with Robert Bunfill in August 2014, and three years later, the couple welcomed their son, Vincent. Rodman couldn’t hide his excitement, tweeting: “Wow, congrats to my daughter Alexis and her husband for the birth of their 1st baby: Vincent! I can’t believe I’m a Grandfather!”
For a man often known for his wild antics, the tweet gave fans a rare glimpse into his softer side.
Dennis “D.J.” Jr Rodman
Moving on to Rodman’s third marriage with Michelle Moyer, the pair welcomed their first child together, Dennis “D.J.” Jr., on April 25, 2001. It seems like basketball runs in the family because D.J. decided to follow in his dad’s iconic footsteps. Pursuing a professional career, the younger Rodman quickly made a name for himself as a rising basketball star with big dreams on the court.
In May 2019, D.J. shared some exciting news: he committed to playing college basketball at Washington State University. That journey didn’t end there. In 2023, after several seasons with Washington, he announced he was transferring to the USC to join the Trojans.
But D.J.’s basketball path has been anything but smooth. Despite joining the Los Angeles Clippers Summer League team after going undrafted in 2024, he bounced around in the NBA G League. The Capital City Go-Go signed and waived him twice in just over a month.
Interestingly, D.J. hasn’t shied away from speaking about his complex relationship with his father. On Father’s Day 2020, he skipped praising Rodman altogether, instead dedicating a heartfelt Instagram post to his mom, Michelle. He wrote, “Happy Father’s Day to the one who helped me grow… and played both father and mother figures for my whole life.”
Trinity Rodman
It’s not easy being the child of a sports icon, but Trinity Rodman has more than risen to the occasion. Born on May 20, 2002, to Dennis Rodman and Michelle Moyer, Trinity started playing soccer at just four years old.
Although she initially committed to the UCLA Bruins in 2019, she decided to follow in her brother’s footsteps and join Washington State University instead. Unfortunately, COVID-19 put her collegiate debut on hold.
Fast forward to January 2021, and Trinity’s career took a major turn when she became the second overall pick in the NWSL draft, selected by the Washington Spirit.
While soccer is a far cry from Rodman’s legendary basketball career, Trinity acknowledged her father’s athletic influence. “He was an amazing athlete, and I got those genes from him,” she shared after being drafted.
However, she made one thing clear: “I’m excited to be known as Trinity Rodman and not just as Rodman’s daughter.”
By April of that same year, Trinity was making headlines. Minutes into her debut game with the Washington Spirit, she became the youngest American to score in NWSL history. The year brought other surprises, too. During a playoff game in November, Trinity was “shocked” when Rodman showed up to watch her play, a rare moment of support that left her emotional. She later shared a photo of them embracing on Instagram, giving fans a glimpse into their complicated but meaningful relationship.
The momentum didn’t stop there. In 2022, Trinity joined the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team roster, quickly making history as the youngest player to score two goals in a single match. Her first FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 didn’t end in victory. The U.S. lost to Sweden in the Round of 16, but it only fueled her hunger for success.
Then came 2024. In May, Trinity went public with her relationship with Cleveland Browns wide receiver Trinity Benson, cheekily dubbing them “Trinity squared.” Later that year, she delivered her career-defining moment at the Paris Olympics, scoring the winning goal in the semifinals against Japan. “That’s the best moment of my career,” she told ESPN.
While Dennis Rodman keeps struggling to keep a close relationship with his three kids, one thing is sure: they are making names for themselves outside their dad’s shadow.
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