List of NBA annual rebounding leaders explained

In basketball, a rebound is the act of gaining possession of the ball after a missed field goal or free throw. An offensive rebound occurs when a player recovers the ball after their own or a teammate's missed shot attempt, while a defensive rebound occurs when a player recovers the ball after an opponent's missed shot attempt.[1] The National Basketball Association's (NBA) rebounding title is awarded to the player with the highest rebounds per game average in a given season. It was first recognized in the 1950–51 season, which was the second season after the league was created in 1949 by merger of the 3-year-old BAA and 12-year-old NBL. Players who earned rebounding titles before the 1973–74 season did not record any offensive or defensive rebounds because statistics on them were not recorded before that season.[2] To qualify for the rebounding title, a player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as annual rebounding leader if his rebound total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the 2013–14 season.[3] The rebounding title was originally determined by rebound total through the 1968–69 season, after which rebounds per game was used to determine the leader instead.

Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time records for total rebounds (2,149) and rebounds per game (27.2) in a season; both records were achieved in the 1960–61 season.[4] He also holds the rookie records for total rebounds, with 1,941 in the 1959–60 season.[5] Among active players, Andre Drummond has the highest season rebound total (1,247) and the highest season rebounding average (15.99), both achieved in the 2017–18 season. At 22 years, 130 days, Dwight Howard is the youngest rebounding leader in NBA history (achieved in the season),[6] while Dennis Rodman is the oldest at 36 years, 341 days (achieved in the season).

Chamberlain has won the most rebounding titles in his career, with 11.[4] Dennis Rodman has won a record seven consecutive rebounding titles.[7] Moses Malone has won six rebounding titles. Howard has won five rebounding titles. Kevin Garnett and Bill Russell have won four rebounding titles each. Drummond has won four rebounding titles. Elvin Hayes, Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ben Wallace, DeAndre Jordan, and Damontas Sabonis are the only other players who have won the title multiple times. Six players have won the rebounding title and the NBA championship in the same season: Mikan in 1953 with the Minneapolis Lakers; Russell in 1959, 1964, and 1965 with the Boston Celtics; Chamberlain in 1967 and 1972 with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively; Bill Walton in 1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers; Malone in 1983 with the 76ers; and Rodman in 1996, 1997, and 1998 with the Chicago Bulls.[8]

Key

^Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration
Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player had been the
rebounding leader up to and including that season
GGuardFForwardCCenter

Annual leaders

SeasonPlayerPos.TeamGames
played
Offensive
rebounds
Defensive
rebounds
Total
rebounds
Rebounds
per game
Ref
F/C66 1,080 16.36[9] [10]
C66 880 13.33[11]
C66 880 13.33[12]
C70 1,007 14.39[13]
F/C72 1,098 15.25[14]
C72 1,085 15.07[15]
C72 1,164 16.17[16]
F72 1,256 17.44[17]
C69 1,564 22.67[18]
  • (2)
C70 1,612 23.03
C72 1,941 26.96[19]
  • (2)
C79 2,149 27.20
  • (3)
C80 2,052 25.65
  • (4)
C80 1,946 24.32
  • (3)
C78 1,930 24.74
  • (4)
C78 1,878 24.08
  • (5)
C79 1,943 24.59
  • (6)
C81 1,957 24.16
  • (7)
C82 1,952 23.80
  • (8)
C81 1,712 21.14
C82 1,386 16.90[20] [21]
  • (9)
C82 1,493 18.21[22]
  • (10)
C82 1,572 19.17[23]
  • (11)
C82 1,526 18.61[24]
  • (2)
F81 354 1,109 1,463 18.06[25]
C/F73 318 759 1,077 14.75[26] [27]
C82 272 1,111 1,383 16.87[28] [29]
C/F65 211 723 934 14.37[30] [31]
C/F82 298 990 1,288 15.71[32] [33]
C82 587 857 1,444 17.61[34] [35]
C81 352 864 1,216 15.01[36] [37]
  • (2)
C80 474 706 1,180 14.75[38]
  • (3)
C81 558 630 1,188 14.67[39]
  • (4)
C78 445 749 1,194 15.31[40]
  • (5)
C71 352 598 950 13.38[41]
  • (6)
C79 385 646 1,031 13.05[42]
C82 305 770 1,075 13.11[43] [44]
F68 390 604 994 14.62[45] [46]
F/C72 371 567 938 13.03[47] [48]
C82 338 767 1,105 13.48[49] [50]
  • (2)
C82 299 850 1,149 14.01[51]
C82 335 728 1,063 12.96[52] [53]
F82 523 1,007 1,530 18.66[54] [55]
  • (2)
F62 367 765 1,132 18.26[56]
  • (3)
F79 453 914 1,367 17.30[57]
  • (4)
F49 274 549 823 16.80[58]
  • (5)
F64 356 596 952 14.88[59]
  • (6)
F55 320 563 883 16.05[60]
  • (7)
F80 421 780 1,201 15.01[61]
F/C42 149 396 545 12.98[62] [63]
C82 304 853 1,157 14.11[64] [65]
  • (2)
C75 307 708 1,015 13.53[66]
C/F80 318 721 1,039 12.99[67] [68]
  • (2)
C/F73 293 833 1,126 15.42[69]
F82 245 894 1,139 13.89[70] [71]
  • (2)
F82 247 861 1,108 13.51[72]
  • (3)
F76 214 752 966 12.71[73]
  • (4)
F76 183 792 975 12.83[74]
C82 279 882 1,161 14.16[75] [76]
(2)C79 336 757 1,093 13.84
(3)C82 284 798 1,082 13.20
^F/C73 330 782 1,112 15.23[77]
(4)C54 200 585 785 14.54
(5)C76 251 694 945 12.43[78]
^C82 331 783 1,114 13.59[79]
^ (2)C82 397 829 1,226 14.95[80]
^ C81 395 803 1,198 14.79
CMiami Heat77 293 795 1,088 14.13[81]
^ (2) CDetroit Pistons78 399 848 1,247 15.99[82]
^ (3) CDetroit Pistons79 423 809 1,232 15.59
^ (4) CDetroit Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers
57 250 614 864 15.16
^CAtlanta Hawks63 297 606 903 14.33[83]
^CUtah Jazz66 241 727 968 14.67
^CSacramento Kings79 251 722 973 12.32[84]
^ (2)CSacramento Kings82 294 826 1,120 13.66

Multiple-time leaders

RankPlayerTeamTimes leaderYears
1Wilt ChamberlainPhiladelphia Warriors/San Francisco Warriors (4) / Philadelphia 76ers (3) / Los Angeles Lakers (4)11,,,,,,,,,,
2Dennis RodmanDetroit Pistons (2) / San Antonio Spurs (2) / Chicago Bulls (3)7,,,,,,
3Moses MaloneHouston Rockets (3) / Philadelphia 76ers (3)6,,,,,
4Dwight HowardOrlando Magic (4) / Los Angeles Lakers (1)5,,,,
5Andre DrummondDetroit Pistons (3) / Cleveland Cavaliers (1)4,,,
Kevin GarnettMinnesota Timberwolves,,,
Bill RussellBoston Celtics,,,
8Elvin HayesSan Diego Rockets (1) / Capital Bullets (1)2,
DeAndre JordanLos Angeles Clippers,
Dikembe MutomboAtlanta Hawks (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (1),
Hakeem OlajuwonHouston Rockets,
Domantas SabonisSacramento Kings,
Ben WallaceDetroit Pistons,

See also

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Basketball glossary. https://web.archive.org/web/20100516175956/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/baskBasi/glos.asp. dead. May 16, 2010. FIBA.com. March 4, 2010.
  2. Web site: Regular Season Records: Rebounds. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20140705063539/http://www.nba.com/history/records/regular_rebounds.html. July 5, 2014. dead.
  3. Web site: Rate Statistic Requirements. basketball-reference.com. February 6, 2020. May 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130514040849/http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/rate_stat_req.html. live.
  4. Web site: Wilt Chamberlain. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. December 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061215202627/http://www.nba.com/history/players/chamberlain_bio.html. live.
  5. Web site: Wilt Chamberlain's NBA records. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. April 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160425232201/http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/wilts_records.html. live.
  6. Web site: Magic rest starters, ride Redick, Gortat to blowout of Wizards. April 16, 2008. ESPN. April 25, 2013. December 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205050745/http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280416019. dead.
  7. Web site: Dennis Rodman . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 22, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100420020818/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dennis_rodman/bio.html . April 20, 2010 .
  8. Web site: NBA Honors: Rebounds Leaders, Year by Year. Land of Basketball. October 15, 2020. October 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201015082232/https://www.landofbasketball.com/awards/nba_rebounds_leader_year.htm. live.
  9. Web site: 2013-14 Official NBA Guide. November 6, 2013. nba.com. December 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160313052807/https://turnernbahangtime.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/2013-nba-guide.pdf. March 13, 2016. dead.
  10. s/schaydo01. Dolph Schayes. February 22, 2010.
  11. f/foustla01. Larry Foust. December 29, 2013.
  12. h/hutchme01. Mel Hutchins. December 29, 2013.
  13. m/mikange01. George Mikan. February 22, 2010.
  14. g/gallaha01. Harry Gallatin. February 22, 2010.
  15. j/johnsne01. Neil Johnston. February 22, 2010.
  16. p/pettibo01. Bob Pettit. December 29, 2013.
  17. s/stokema01. Maurice Stokes. February 22, 2010.
  18. r/russebi01. Bill Russell. February 22, 2010.
  19. c/chambwi01. Wilt Chamberlain. February 22, 2010.
  20. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1969–70. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151108174716/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19691970.html. November 8, 2015. dead.
  21. h/hayesel01. Elvin Hayes. February 22, 2010.
  22. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1970–71. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308005402/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19701971.html. March 8, 2016. dead.
  23. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1971–72. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151121162921/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19711972.html. November 21, 2015. dead.
  24. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1972–73. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151121162921/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19711972.html. November 21, 2015. dead.
  25. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1973–74. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628190816/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19731974.html. June 28, 2015. dead.
  26. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1974–75. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031054606/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19741975.html. October 31, 2015. dead.
  27. u/unselwe01. Wes Unseld. February 22, 2010.
  28. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1975–76. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628190820/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19751976.html. June 28, 2015. dead.
  29. a/abdulka01. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. February 22, 2010.
  30. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1976–77. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151101093501/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19761977.html. November 1, 2015. dead.
  31. w/waltobi01. Bill Walton. February 22, 2010.
  32. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1977–78. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151101093458/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19771978.html. November 1, 2015. dead.
  33. r/robintr01. Truck Robinson. February 22, 2010.
  34. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1978–79. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151129163850/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19781979.html. November 29, 2015. dead.
  35. m/malonmo01. Moses Malone. February 22, 2010.
  36. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1979–80. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031060203/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19791980.html. October 31, 2015. dead.
  37. n/natersw01. Swen Nater. February 22, 2010.
  38. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1980–81. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151106212542/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19801981.html. November 6, 2015. dead.
  39. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1981–82. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075818/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19811982.html. March 4, 2016. dead.
  40. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1982–83. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125022944/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19821983.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  41. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1983–84. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024450/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19831984.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  42. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1984–85. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151129163900/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19841985.html. November 29, 2015. dead.
  43. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1985–86. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024454/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19851986.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  44. l/laimbbi01. Bill Laimbeer. February 22, 2010.
  45. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1986–87. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024501/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19861987.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  46. b/barklch01. Charles Barkley. February 22, 2010.
  47. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1987–88. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024504/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19871988.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  48. c/cagemi01. Michael Cage. February 22, 2010.
  49. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1988–89. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628190841/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19881989.html. June 28, 2015. dead.
  50. o/olajuha01. Hakeem Olajuwon. February 22, 2010.
  51. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1989–90. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151121162925/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19891990.html. November 21, 2015. dead.
  52. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1990–91. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024508/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19901991.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  53. r/robinda01. David Robinson. February 22, 2010.
  54. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1991–92. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151108174724/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19911992.html. November 8, 2015. dead.
  55. r/rodmade01. Dennis Rodman. February 22, 2010.
  56. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1992–93. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151106212545/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19921993.html. November 6, 2015. dead.
  57. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1993–94. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151101093508/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19931994.html. November 1, 2015. dead.
  58. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1994–95. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151108174727/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19941995.html. November 8, 2015. dead.
  59. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1995–96. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151108174731/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19951996.html. November 8, 2015. dead.
  60. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1996–97. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024513/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19961997.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  61. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1997–98. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151106212549/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19971998.html. November 6, 2015. dead.
  62. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1998–99. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031054610/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19981999.html. October 31, 2015. dead.
  63. w/webbech01. Chris Webber. February 22, 2010.
  64. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 1999–2000. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150629050630/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/19992000.html. June 29, 2015. dead.
  65. m/mutomdi01. Dikembe Mutombo. February 22, 2010.
  66. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2000–01. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125024516/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20002001.html. November 25, 2015. dead.
  67. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2001–02. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031054635/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20012002.html. October 31, 2015. dead.
  68. w/wallabe01. Ben Wallace. February 22, 2010.
  69. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2002–03. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031060212/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20022003.html. October 31, 2015. dead.
  70. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2003–04. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213036/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20032004.html. March 3, 2016. dead.
  71. g/garneke01. Kevin Garnett. February 22, 2010.
  72. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2004–05. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628190855/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20042005.html. June 28, 2015. dead.
  73. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2005–06. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151121162930/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20052006.html. November 21, 2015. dead.
  74. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2006–07. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628190859/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20062007.html. June 28, 2015. dead.
  75. Web site: League Leaders: Rebounds – 2007–08. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151121162934/http://www.nba.com/history/rebounds/20072008.html. November 21, 2015. dead.
  76. h/howardw01. Dwight Howard. February 22, 2010.
  77. l/loveke01. Kevin Love. April 13, 2011.
  78. Web site: 2012–13 Rebounding Leaders: Rebounds Per Game. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 23, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130123080143/http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Rebounds.jsp?league=00&season=22012&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&splitScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=. January 23, 2013.
  79. j/jordade01. DeAndre Jordan. April 17, 2014.
  80. j/jordade01. DeAndre Jordan. April 15, 2015.
  81. w/whiteha01.html. Hassan Whiteside. April 13, 2017.
  82. d/drumman01. Andre Drummond. April 13, 2017.
  83. c/capelca01. Clint Capela. May 17, 2021.
  84. Web site: Huff . Mathew . Domantas Sabonis Wins NBA Rebounding Title . The Sports Daily . 11 April 2023 . 30 April 2023 . 19 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419202657/https://thesportsdaily.com/news/domantas-sabonis-wins-nba-rebounding-title/ . live .