"I can score 20 points if I want to, but that's not my desire"
About this Quote
The subtext is a defense of specialization, but it’s also a preemptive strike against the lazy critique that role players are just limited. Rodman isn’t asking to be excused from scoring; he’s insisting that rebounds, defense, and chaos management are choices, not consolation prizes. It reframes the court as an economy of attention: someone has to chase misses, body up on bigger guys, take the unglamorous contact, and read angles like a pool shark. Rodman built a Hall of Fame identity out of those margins.
Context matters: in the Jordan Bulls era, touches were scarce and the hierarchy was rigid. Saying you could get 20 is a subtle way to claim agency inside a system built for superstars. It’s also brand-building - Rodman as the anti-hero who rejects the clean, marketable definition of greatness. The line works because it’s both humility and provocation: a reminder that desire, not just skill, decides what kind of player (and person) you become.
Quote Details
| Topic | Sports |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Rodman, Dennis. (2026, January 17). I can score 20 points if I want to, but that's not my desire. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-can-score-20-points-if-i-want-to-but-thats-not-56664/
Chicago Style
Rodman, Dennis. "I can score 20 points if I want to, but that's not my desire." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-can-score-20-points-if-i-want-to-but-thats-not-56664/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I can score 20 points if I want to, but that's not my desire." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-can-score-20-points-if-i-want-to-but-thats-not-56664/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.





