By admin 
They say all good things come to an end, but some bad things have a way of ending, too. Just ask Alonzo Mourning and Dennis Rodman.
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Once sworn enemies from their Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls battles, the two basketball greats buried the hatchet once and for all in the most recent Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Zo and Dennis shook hands for the first time in 30 years
The older generation of NBA players was built different. They took pride in their rivalries and even refused to fraternize with each other during All-Star games. And sometimes, much like Mourning and Rodman, they carry that animosity long after their careers were over.
That’s why, for nearly three decades, the bad blood between the two never went away. Words were exchanged. Rodman once called Mourning “a $17 million punk”, while the latter called the former “sick”, referring to The Worm’s flirtatious tactics to get him off his game.
Their heated battles boiled over for years, especially after their yearly postseason battles. In Game 4 of the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals, both titans were assessed technical fouls after wrestling each other under the rim. It was Zo who largely kept his cool, which pretty much explains why the Heat won.
Meanwhile, Rodman continued running his mouth. He called Mourning “a kid” who “doesn’t know how to play the game of basketball.” As Zo refused to answer, Heat head coach Pat Riley stood up to Rodman and called him a few memorable names.
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That’s why it’s hard to imagine if the two Hall of Famers could really put the past behind them. But in a wonderful twist of fate, Chris Webber posted a video of Zo and Dennis shaking hands for the first time since their 90s encounters. And it wasn’t just the sight of them clasping hands; it was the smiles and genuine glee in their faces.
Power Forward Summit. What’s Beef? Zo and Dennis haven’t shook hands in almost 30 years..🫡🫡🫡🫡#powerforward#hof#blessed#ByGodsGrace Spread Love! pic.twitter.com/p4Hn4NNdn5
— Chris Webber (@realchriswebber) August 17, 2026
“Bury that sh-t, man,” Kevin Garnett barked in the background.
“First time they done shake hands in 30 years,” quipped C-Webb.
If they hand out medals for the best news in basketball over the recent days, this one takes the podium, no doubt. Two old rivals are finally deciding to let bygones be bygones.
Time to move on
There comes a point when a rivalry stops being a rivalry, especially when the ones involved are already long in the tooth. It was once very personal and intense, with no light at the end of the tunnel.
Gladly, the beef is finally buried. Not only does that leave two HOFers with one less grudge to carry, but fans might get the chance to hear some stories that have been sitting untold for 30 years. If Zo and Dennis ever decide to stop by a podcast, there will surely be no shortage of listeners.
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This story was originally published August 17, 2026 at 2:26 PM.