Top 10 Best Rebounders in NBA History
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... 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.
Dennis Keith Rodman is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association. 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.
William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American retired professional basketball player. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969.
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.
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.
Robert Lee Pettit Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA.
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.
JaVale Lindy McGee is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. 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.
The Newcomers
Dwight David Howard is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association. Most underrated rebounder of all time. Deserves to be higher than Kevin Garnett.
Moses Eugene Malone was an American basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association from 1974 through 1995. The center was named the NBA Most Valuable Player three times and was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection... read more One of the best of all time. Not a lot of help in Houston.
Charles Wade Barkley is an American retired professional basketball player and current analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Only season to avg less than 10 boards was his rookie year, and he was 6'6".
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, nicknamed Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. He is known for his fun, friendly personality, and is one of the most beloved athletes of all time.
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American retired professional basketball player.
Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.
Elvin Ernest Hayes is an American retired professional basketball player and radio analyst for his alma-mater Houston Cougars.
Kevin Maurice Garnett is a former professional basketball player who played for 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association, for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets.
Andre Jamal Drummond is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Widely viewed as the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan made six NBA Finals appearances in his career, winning the NBA championship each time.
Larry Joe Bird is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Bird is a 3x champ, 1x ROTY, 1x Finals MVP, 3x 3PT Contest winner, all with the Boston Celtics. (1979-1992)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.
Draymond Jamal Green Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association.
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player who has played his entire career for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association.
Russell Westbrook Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.