Pistons Suspend Rodman Indefinitely

The Detroit Pistons on Friday indefinitely suspended forward Dennis Rodman without pay.

The suspension is retroactive to Thursday night’s 99-87 loss at Denver, spokesman Matt Dobek said.

Piston officials had not heard from Rodman on whether he planned to appeal the suspension, Dobek said.

The two-time All-Star led the league in rebounds and set Detroit’s single-season rebounding record in 1991-92. But Rodman, who was being paid about $2.35 million this season, or about $30,000 per game, skipped almost all of training camp. He said that his pending divorce and other personal problems had sapped his motivation to play basketball.

The seventh-year pro played in the Pistons’ first four games of the regular season, then suffered a knee injury. Team physicians cleared Rodman to play Monday, but he hasn’t been with the club on its current trip, Dobek said.

“It is a major, major distraction for us, and we have to move on,” Piston President Tom Wilson told television station WDIV. “Dennis Rodman is welcome to come back and be a Detroit Piston when he’s ready to play like Dennis Rodman.”