Rodman was fairly complimentary of Kim, who oversees a repressive, secluded nation, but his niceties did not go over well back in the United States -- especially because his North Korea visits were not diplomatically sanctioned. According to a new report from The Athletic, however, the Obama White House actually did weigh the idea of a former Chicago Bulls player attempting some hoops diplomacy.
The player in question wasn't going to be Rodman, though. They instead discussed Bulls sharpshooter Steve Kerr, now the coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Marcus Noland, an economist who's studied North Korea, visited the Oval Office in May 2012.