The Top 5 Best NBA Rebounders Of All Time
In the NBA, rebounds are a crucial part of the game. They can often mean the difference between winning and losing. A rebound is simply defined as getting the ball back after it has been missed by either your team or the other team.
Rebounding is not just about getting the ball; it’s also about securing possession of the ball and preventing your opponent from doing so. In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 5 NBA rebounders of all time!
What is a Rebound in Basketball?
In basketball, a rebound is defined as “a live ball that comes into contact with a player or the ground inside the playing boundary following any missed field goal or free throw, or following an opponent’s successful field goal attempt.”
In other words, it is the act of reclaiming a missed shot. Rebounding is critical because it gives your team another chance to score and can frequently result in second-chance points.
How is a Basketball Player Specifically Good at Rebounds?
Great rebounders tend to be tall and strong. Because height is so important, most rebounds are made by centers and power forwards, who are often positioned closer to the basket. The lack of height can sometimes be compensated by the strength to box out taller players away from the ball to capture the rebound.
NBA players who aren’t as tall but still want to rebound can jump higher off one foot than off two (and land on two feet). These NBA rebounders are usually guards because they are not as tall or as strong as centers or forwards.
The 5 Best NBA Rebounders of All Time
Now that we know what rebounds are and why they’re important, let’s take a look at the top five NBA rebounders of all time!
5. Charles Barkley
The list begins with the man who is called a Round Mound of Rebound! Sir Charles was an undersized Power Forward, listed as 6’6 and Barkley is the shortest player ever to claim the rebounding title.
His lack of height was compensated by his amazing vertical leap of a 37-inch! Young Barkley was known for grabbing a rebound and going coast to coast with LeBron-like intensity.
Even though Barkley never won an NBA Championship he was an amazing player, one of a kind, and an outstanding rebounder. Listed as one of the Top 75 NBA Players, Barkley won the MVP title in 1993 and was part of the Dream Team in 1992 that dominated the Olympics in Barcelona.
His career average RBG was 11.7 and was the rebound leader in the 1986-87 season averaging 14.6 RBG!
4. Moses Malone
Definitely the best Moses and arguably the best Malone in NBA history! He was so strong that he bullied his way to the offensive rebounds and then scored.
Listed as the Top 75 NBA Players, Moses Malone was a 6-time NBA rebounding Leader (1979, 1981-1985) averaging 12.3 RBG throughout his career. His best rebounding season was in 1978-79 when he averaged 17.6 RBG!
Moses Malone is the only player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs for two different teams, winning it with the Houston Rockets in 1982 and with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. He was 3x MVPs, and alongside the two mentioned, he was the league’s best player in 1979.
NBA Champion from 1983 was a dominant force in the paint, he is arguably one of the best rebounders that the game has ever seen and definitely deserves the spot in the top 5 rebounders of all time!
3. Bill Russell
Mr. 11 rings! Considered as a one of the best players ever, Bill Russell was a dominant force in the 60s.
He led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA championships (1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969)! Russell was able to completely shut down the opposing team in the paint using his length, quickness, and amazing strength, being able to out-rebound everyone.
Listed at 6’10 he was averaging 22.5 RPG throughout his career, winning the NBA rebounding champion four times (1958, 1959, 1964, 1965), and is for reason included as one of the best NBA rebounders.
To honor Russell, NBA retired his number 6 league-wide and it’s the first time in league history a number was retired across all organizations.
2. Wilt Chamberlain
Leader of the NBA All-Time Rebounds with 23,924 rebounds throughout his career! The only player who scored 4,000 points in a single season! Only player ever to score 100 points in a single game. And the list of records goes on and on.
Wilt Chamberlain is considered the most dominant center of all time.
“I am not a rebounder or anything else; I’ve always been just another basketball player.”
Wilt Chamberlain on his rebounding prowess
He was regarded as one of the best NBA rebounders of all time. For ten consecutive seasons, he averaged over 20 rebounds per game and led all scorers with an average of 50 points! His best rebounding season was in 1960-61 when he averaged 27.2 RPG!
His legacy lives on today, with many players attempting to emulate him by playing significant minutes while also taking care of themselves physically, as he did.
1. Dennis Rodman
Widely considered the best NBA rebounder, “The Worm” was an outstanding rebounder both offensively and defensively. He holds the record for most 20-rebound games without a point!
Part of the Detroit “Bad Boys” and Jordans Chicago Bulls, he was able to win 5 NBA championships (1989, 1990, 1996-1998).
Similar to Barkley, Rodman was an undersized Power Forward listed as 6’7, however, due to his energy, strength, effort, and determination he was able to box out much taller players than him.
In the category of Rebounding % (the number of rebounds grabbed versus the number available to grab), Rodman holds all 7 of the top 7 seasons in NBA history. No other player in the top 30 has more than two!
Throughout his career, he averaged 13.1 RPG, and was NBA rebounding champion 7 times(1992-1998)!
If you watched Dennis Rodman play then you should understand why is on the top of the Best NBA Rebounders ever!
Honorable Mentions
It wouldn’t be fair not to mention some of the greats who didn’t make the list of the best NBA rebounders due to their presence, energy, and rebounding effort.
Players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Robert Parish, and Elvin Hayes definitely deserve a spot on a bigger list, however, these are our top 5 picks for the Best NBA Rebounders!
| Player | Total Rebounds | RPG | NBA Rebounding Champion | |
| 1. | Dennis Rodman | 11,954 | 13.1 | 7 (1992-1998) |
| 2. | Wilt Chamberlain | 23,924 | 22.9 | 11 (1960-1963, 1966-1969, 1971-1973) |
| 3. | Bill Russell | 21,620 | 22.5 | 4 (1958, 1959, 1964, 1965) |
| 4. | Moses Malone | 16,212 | 12.3 | 6 (1979, 1981–1985) |
| 5. | Charles Barkley | 12,546 | 11.7 | 1 (1988) |
Conclusion
That concludes the list of the top five NBA rebounders of all time! They are among the most talented and accomplished players in NBA history, and their rebounding abilities have led to numerous victories on the court.
Do you think someone is missing from this list? Please let us know in the comments!
