Rodman Takes Leave of Absence, but Spurs Continue to Pay Him

Dennis Rodman, the San Antonio Spurs’ problematic forward, has taken a leave of absence from the team but will continue to be paid, the Spurs said Saturday night.

“It has been mutually agreed upon by both the Spurs and Dennis Rodman that he will be granted a leave of absence for personal reasons,” General Manager Gregg Popovich said before San Antonio’s game against the New York Knicks.

Popovich didn’t specify what Rodman’s personal reasons were and said the leave was for an undetermined period.

Rodman, who has been at odds with management over his adherence to team rules, was not at the Alamodome for the game.

Rodman, the league’s leading rebounder the last three seasons and one of the game’s most controversial players, met with Popovich for about 30 minutes Friday.

Rodman, who has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $2.4 million annually, has yet to play for the Spurs this season.

Popovich said Rodman will be paid because “we thought that was the right thing to do.” Rodman was not paid for the first three games of the year, when he was suspended after a series of preseason incidents.