Top 10 Best Rebounders in NBA History

1. Dennis Rodman

   

   Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for several NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks.

   Rodman was renowned for his rebounding ability and defensive prowess. He won five... read more

   The Worm was tenacious. He knew he couldn't shoot a ball to save his life, so he made up for it with his ruthless, aggressive addiction to getting the ball back and giving it to his scorers. Dennis Rodman was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of the best defenders, shot blockers, and rebounders ever, even with his shorter height. He was a lion.

   In the modern era, Dennis played against 29 other teams. Wilt and Russell played against 8 teams. Moreover, there was more talent and athleticism during Rodman's time, and Shaq, Duncan, Hakeem - I mean, he played against so many great centers and outrebounded them all.

2. Wilt Chamberlain

   

   Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia and died on October 12, 1999, in Los Angeles due to heart failure. He was 63 years old at the time of his death.... read more

   He's statistically the most prolific rebounder of all time, both on average (per game) and in total career. He also holds the record for the most rebounds in a single game, and he set that record while playing against the second most prolific rebounder in history. Sheer madness.

   Wilt played against Hall of Fame centers every night, not in the post-expansion NBA where most centers were considered inferior. He played against the second-best rebounder ever, Bill Russell, over 130 times. Wilt would eat Dennis Rodman for breakfast, and today's centers, like Noah or the Lopez brothers, would simply run and hide when he walked on the court.

   The NBA's current best rebounder is the slow, white, unathletic 6-7 Kevin Love. How pathetic.

3. Bill Russell

   

   William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American professional basketball player. He played center for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969. Russell was an 11-time NBA champion and a five-time MVP, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the... read more

4. Moses Malone

   

   Moses Eugene Malone was an American basketball player who competed in the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association from 1974 to 1995. A dominant center, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player three times, selected as a 12-time NBA All-Star, and earned eight All-NBA honors... read more

   One of the best of all time. Not a lot of help in Houston.

5. Nate Thurmond

   

   Nathaniel Thurmond was an American basketball player who spent the majority of his 14-year career in the National Basketball Association with the Golden State Warriors. He played the center and power forward positions. Thurmond was a seven-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of... read more

6. Bob Pettit

   

   Robert Lee Pettit Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Milwaukee and St. Louis Hawks. Pettit was the first recipient of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in... read more

7. Jerry Lucas

   Come on, guys, get real. Jerry Lucas outrebounded Walt Bellamy in college and in the pros consistently. He was pound for pound the best rebounder ever. Look at his numbers per playing minute and tell me why he is not ranked third to Chamberlain and Russell! He even outrebounded Russell for one entire year!

   If you want this list to have credibility, you need Jerry Lucas way up high, or the list is messed up and not real!

   Louis

   Lucas was the best rebounder I ever saw play.

   Lucas is one of 3 players to avg. 20 pts and 20 rebounds in a season. Eat your heart out, Rodman.

8. Elvin Hayes

   

   Elvin Ernest Hayes is an American retired professional basketball player. He played collegiately for the Houston Cougars and went on to a successful NBA career. After retiring, he served as a radio analyst for the Houston Cougars.

9. Walt Bellamy

10. Hakeem Olajuwon

    

    Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American retired professional basketball player. He played in the NBA from 1984 to 2002, spending most of his career with the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon led the Rockets to two NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 and was named NBA Finals... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Myles Turner

    
12. ?

    Pascal Siakam

    

    Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

    A four-time NBA All-Star (2020, 2023, 2025, 2026) and two-time All-NBA selection, Siakam won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019... read more

The Contenders

13. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

    

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, a record he held from 1989 until it was surpassed in 2023... read more

14. Shaquille O'Neal

    

    Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, known widely as Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player. He currently works as a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Renowned for his dominant presence on the court and his charismatic, approachable personality, O'Neal remains one of the... read more

15. Wes Unseld

16. Kevin Garnett

    

    Kevin Maurice Garnett is a former professional basketball player who spent 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets. Garnett is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.

17. JaVale McGee

    

    JaVale Lindy McGee is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Born on January 19, 1988, he has played for multiple teams during his NBA career. McGee won NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

    Haha, this list just lost every bit of credibility possible. Attention avid NBA fans looking for an entertaining read on a reputable site, LEAVE NOW! Basic homerism wouldn't even explain this level of ignorance.

18. Dwight Howard

    

    Dwight David Howard is an American former professional basketball player. He was an eight-time NBA All-Star, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and an NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. In 2025, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

    Most underrated rebounder of all time. Deserves to be higher than Kevin Garnett.

19. Elgin Baylor

    

    Elgin Gay Baylor (September 16, 1934 to March 22, 2021) was an American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the NBA, beginning with the Minneapolis Lakers and continuing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Baylor earned 11 All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA... read more

    In the top 10 every full season he played. Averaged 20 rebounds a game one season at only 6'5. Had over 30 rebounds in a game 3 times. Had a game with 71 points scored and 25 rebounds. Absolutely in the top 5 all-time.

20. Charles Barkley

    

    Charles Wade Barkley is an American retired professional basketball player and current television analyst. He played 16 seasons in the NBA and is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time. Barkley currently appears as a commentator on Inside the NBA.

    Only season to avg less than 10 boards was his rookie year, and he was 6'6".

21. Nikola Jokic

    

    Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Nuggets in 2014 and has since become one of the league's top players. Jokić won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in both 2021 and 2022.

22. Andre Drummond

    

    Andre Jamal Drummond is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. He was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Drummond is known for his rebounding ability and has led the league in rebounds multiple times... read more

23. Michael Jordan

    

    Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, he made six NBA Finals appearances. Jordan won the NBA championship each time.

24. Larry Bird

    

    Larry Joe Bird is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics in the NBA from 1979 to 1992. He won three NBA championships, was named Rookie of the Year, and earned a Finals MVP award. Bird also won the Three-Point Contest three times and is widely regarded as... read more

25. Draymond Green

    

    Draymond Jamal Green Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Warriors in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Green is a four-time NBA champion and a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

26. Tim Duncan

    

    Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is a retired American professional basketball player. He played his entire 19-season career with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. Duncan won five NBA championships, earned two MVP awards, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards... read more

27. Russell Westbrook

    

    Russell Westbrook Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He has been recognized for his explosive athleticism and dynamic playing style throughout his career. Westbrook has earned multiple All-Star selections and won the NBA... read more