Andre Drummond has turned into a journeyman in the last three years. Drummond has made stops with the Cavaliers, Lakers, 76ers, and Nets in the last two years. Drummond’s signing with the Chicago Bulls will mark his sixth team in the last four years. What some people may forget is that Drummond is only 28 years old and is a former rebounding champion. When Drummond was on top of his game, he was one of the best rebounders since Dennis Rodman.
- 20T. Patrick Ewing – 23 Games
- 20T. Clint Capela – 23 Games
- 19. Rudy Gobert – 24 Games
- 18. Tim Duncan – 26 Games
- 17. Buck Williams – 27 Games
- 16. Hassan Whiteside – 29 Games
- 15. Bill Laimbeer – 30 Games
- 14. Tyson Chandler – 31 Games
- 13. Shaquille O’Neal – 35 Games
- 12. Kevin Garnett – 36 Games
- 10T. Kevin Willis – 37 Games
- 10T. Moses Malone – 37 Games
- 9. Ben Wallace – 42 Games
- 8. Marcus Camby – 44 Games
- 7. Hakeem Oaljuwon – 48 Games
- 6. Dikembe Mutombo – 52 Games
- 5. Charles Barkley – 54 Games
- 4. DeAndre Jordan – 60 Games
- 3. Dwight Howard – 82 Games
- 2. Andre Drummond – 88 Games
- 1. Dennis Rodman – 158 Games
- Next
- Dennis Rodman’s Career-High Rebounds Against Every NBA Team
- Dennis Rodman’s Rebounds Per Game For Each Season: The Worm Is The Best Rebounder Of All-Time
- The All-Time Rebound Leader For Every NBA Team: Bill Russell Leads The Celtics With Unbelievable 21,620 Rebounds
- NBA Players With The Most Rebounds In A Game Without Scoring A Single Point: Dennis Rodman Was The Best Rebounder Ever And It’s Not Even Close
- Wilt Chamberlain’s Rebounds Per Game For Each Season: 27.2 RPG Is An Unbreakable Record
Drummond is one of the best rebounders we have seen since he came into the league. Recording 20 rebounds in a game were something that Drummond accomplished frequently. Only 24 players in the last 39 years have recorded more than 20 games with 20 rebounds. Rony Seikaly, Jayson Williams, and Charles Oakley got a special shoutout but did not make the cut for the top 20.
Let’s take a look at the players that own the most 20-rebound games since the 1982-83 season.
20T. Patrick Ewing – 23 Games
Ewing scattered his success all across the 90s. His career-high featured 26 rebounds in 1992 against the Heat, while he hit 25 rebounds against the Lakers in 1997. Ewing recorded 24 and 23 rebounds in a game two times, while he reached 22 rebounds in a game three times.
The opponent he took advantage of the most was the Warriors, where he surpassed 20 rebounds three times. Ewing averaged double-digit rebounds nine times in his career. He just missed a double-digit career average with 9.8 rebounds per game.
20T. Clint Capela – 23 Games
Capela will likely break this tie next season the way that he is playing. His success started in 2019 when he was playing with the Rockets. From 2017 to 2020, Capela reached 20 rebounds 15 times. When he joined the Hawks, he recorded eight other games with 20 rebounds.
His best performance came in 2021 against the Pistons with 26 rebounds. For the last five years, Capela has averaged double-digit rebounds. With that effort, he has improved his career average to 10.7 per game. His best average came in 2020-21 when he led the league with 14.3 rebounds per game.
19. Rudy Gobert – 24 Games
Gobert will look to add to his total since joining the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the Utah Jazz, Gobert was a monster in the middle and a multi-Defensive Player of the Year winner. Gobert reached 25 or more rebounds three times. That included 25 rebounds in 2017 and 2019.
His career-high of 28 rebounds came against the Warriors in 2021. Gobert eats the Kings alive as he has recorded 20 rebounds or more three times against this team. Gobert has averaged double-digit rebounds since 2015. His current career average is 11.7 rebounds per game.
18. Tim Duncan – 26 Games
Duncan’s lucky number was 21 rebounds. He recorded in 13 of his 26 games with 20 or more rebounds. Duncan hit 25 or more rebounds three times. That included 25 rebounds against the Heat, 26 rebounds against the Pacers, and his career-high of 27 rebounds against the Hawks. His games against the Hawks and Pacers were less than a month apart in 2010. Duncan reached 23 rebounds three times and 22 rebounds an additional two times.
Duncan averaged double-digit rebounds in his first 13 seasons in the league. He played an additional six seasons after that where he averaged less than 10.0 rebounds per game but finished with a 10.8 average.
17. Buck Williams – 27 Games
Williams was one of the best rebounders in the 80s while playing for the New Jersey Nets. Williams remains the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder. Williams reached 20 rebounds 10 times and 21 rebounds nine times. His career-high of 27 rebounds came against the Warriors in 1987. That total came in 60 minutes of action so there were plenty of opportunities.
Williams finished his career with a 10.0 average. From 1982 to 1988, he averaged 12.0 rebounds all but one time. During his eight-year career with the Nets, he averaged over 10.0 rebounds seven times.
16. Hassan Whiteside – 29 Games
While Whiteside’s playing time has diminished in the last few years, we cannot forget that he was an exceptional rebounder from 2015 to 2020. Whiteside averaged over 10.0 rebounds five straight seasons with the Heat. He averaged a career-high 13.5 rebounds per game during his one season with the Trail Blazers.
During that time frame, Whiteside reached 22 rebounds four times, 23 rebounds four times, and 24 rebounds three times. He reached 25 rebounds two times in his career. The first time came against the Lakers in 2015, while the second time came in 2016 against the Hawks.
15. Bill Laimbeer – 30 Games
Only 15 players have reached 30 games of 20 rebounds or more and that list starts with the former Pistons fan favorite. Laimbeer was one of the bullies of the Bad Boy Pistons that were not afraid to get their hands dirty. When the Pistons were at the height of their success in the 80s, Laimbeer averaged double-digit rebounds for six straight seasons.
Laimbeer had no problem pushing his way around in the middle, so it should not come as a surprise that he reached 20 rebounds multiple times. Laimbeer reached 22 rebounds eight times and 23 rebounds four times. His career-high of 24 rebounds came in 1986. He loved playing the Phoenix Suns, where he reached 23 rebounds or more three times.
14. Tyson Chandler – 31 Games
For a decade, Chandler gave his team a formidable rebounder in the post. Chandler reached 20 or more rebounds with the Bulls, Pelicans, Knicks, Mavericks, Suns, and Knicks. Chandler’s career-high of 28 rebounds came with the Knicks in 2013. Chandler reached at least 25 rebounds three times in his career, which came between 2013 to 2016.
Among his best games, he recorded eight games of 22 rebounds with six other games with outputs of more. Chandler averaged more than 10.0 rebounds five times but was consistent around averaging nine rebounds, which is why 9.0 became his career average.
13. Shaquille O’Neal – 35 Games
Between the Lakers and the Magic, Shaq’s performances of 20 rebounds or more stacked up. That timeframe spanned from 1993 to 2004. When O’Neal entered the league, he averaged 13.9 rebounds per game, which was his career-high. He had double-digit rebounds for a season average of 13 straight seasons.
O’Neal recorded his career-high of 28 rebounds against the Nets during his rookie season. His second-best performance of 26 rebounds came in 2004. In between those years, O’Neal reached 23 rebounds six times, 24 rebounds three times, with an additional three games of at least 25 rebounds or more.
12. Kevin Garnett – 36 Games
From 1999 to 2007, the Timberwolves saw Garnett do just about everything for the franchise. When it came to rebounding, Garnett added plenty of rebounds to the nights he was putting the basket in the hoop. During this time, he averaged double-digit rebounds every season. Once he left for Boston, he never surpassed a 10.0 average again.
Garnett reached 25 rebounds twice. Once came in 2003 against the Kings, while the other came in 2005 against the Magic. Garnett reached 22 rebounds in a game or more 14 times. Garnett was on top of his game during this time as he led the league in rebounding during his last four seasons with the Timberwolves.
10T. Kevin Willis – 37 Games
As a member of the Hawks, Willis has at least 22 rebounds or more nine times. He topped over 30 rebounds two times. He recorded 31 rebounds against the Mavericks in 1991 while his career-high of 33 rebounds came against Washington in 1992. He had two additional games of 25 rebounds in 1993 with two additional games of 24 rebounds in 1991 and 1994.
Willis owned five seasons with at least 10.0 rebounds per game. He enjoyed a long career that nearly spanned 20 seasons. Those extra seasons brought his career average down to 8.4. His best season was 15.5 per game during the 1991-92 season with the Hawks.
10T. Moses Malone – 37 Games
Malone owns way more than 37 games with 20 rebounds, which includes a 37-rebound game in 1979. Malone recorded 32 rebounds in 1982 as well. With our time sample, Malone reached 37 games with at least 20 rebounds or more. His best output during this timeframe featured 24 rebounds in 1984 against the Celtics. Often, Malone scored over 30 points while working the middle for boards as well.
Malone finished his career with a career average of 12.2 per game. That included 14 seasons with double-digit rebound averages. His best season of 17.6 rebounds came during the 1978-79 season while playing with the Rockets.
9. Ben Wallace – 42 Games
The four-time Defensive Player of the Year winner was one of the best in the middle during the 2000s with the Pistons. From 2001 to 2007, Wallace averaged double-digit rebounds. Five of those seasons came with the Pistons while one came with the Bulls. Wallace averaged a career-high 15.4 rebounds during the 2002-03 season.
Wallace recorded 28 rebounds in a game two times. The first came in 2001 against the Raptors, while the second was against the Celtics in 2002. Wallace had a 27-rebound game in 2006 when he joined the Chicago Bulls. Wallace reached 22 rebounds or more in a game 16 times.
8. Marcus Camby – 44 Games
Camby won Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 as a member of the Denver Nuggets. During that season, Camby recorded 22 or more rebounds three times. His career-high of 27 rebounds came in 2008 against the Bulls. Two years later, Camby recorded 25 rebounds against the Bulls as well. There were five additional games where Camby recorded 24 rebounds in a game that stretched between 2004 to 2008.
From 2001 to 2011, Camby averaged double-digit rebounds with the Knicks, Nuggets, Clippers, and Trail Blazers. That included his career-best 12.1 average with the Clippers before he was traded to the Trail Blazers. He finished the season averaging 11.1 in 23 games. Camby nearly averaged double-digit rebounds 10 consecutive seasons but had one injury-plagued year with the Nuggets in 2002-03.
7. Hakeem Oaljuwon – 48 Games
Olajuwon was unable to surpass his career-high of 25 rebounds. The first time he accomplished this was in 1985. He ended up tying this once that same season and ultimately tied it four times. Olajuwon reached 25 rebounds in a game against the Pistons, Magic, Nuggets, and then the Knicks two times. He reached at least 22 rebounds in a game 14 times collectively. Half of his 48 games on this list were games where he finished with exactly 20 rebounds.
Right from the start, Olajuwon was a successful rebounder. He started his career with 11.9 rebounds per game. That led to a string of 12 straight seasons with double-digit rebounds. That is why he finished his career with 11.1 rebounds per game.
6. Dikembe Mutombo – 52 Games
Like Wallace, Mutombo was a four-time DPOY winner. Mutombo reached over 30 rebounds once. That was a game that featured 31 rebounds against the Hornets in 1996. Mutombo reached 25 or more rebounds six times. That included 29 rebounds in 1999 and 2001. Another time was 28 rebounds against the Nets in 2000.
That same season Mutombo reached 25 rebounds against the Suns, while his 26-rebound game was in 1994 against the Lakers. Altogether, Mutombo recorded at least 22 rebounds in a game 22 times. In the end, Mutombo finished his career with 10.3 rebounds per game and was typically a top finisher or contender for the rebounding title.
5. Charles Barkley – 54 Games
Barkley was one of the most aggressive rebounders of the 80s and 90s. Barkley finished his career averaging double-digit rebounds all but one season. That year came during his rookie season in 1984-85 when he averaged 8.6 per game. Barkley finished his career with 11.7 per game.
He finished with over 30 rebounds once. That was his career-high of 33 rebounds against the Suns in 1996 while he was a member of the Rockets. That same season, Barkley had 27 rebounds against the Celtics. Barkley reached 25 rebounds or more seven times. He also had an additional four games with 24 rebounds and five games of 23 rebounds.
4. DeAndre Jordan – 60 Games
Jordan led the league in rebounding twice in 2014 and 2015. His best stretch of success came between 2014 and 2018 while playing for the Clippers and Mavericks. During that time, Jordan averaged double-digit rebounds. That included his league-leading 15.2 boards during the 2017-18 season, which was his final year with the Clippers.
In 2015, Jordan recorded 26 and 27 rebounds in a matter of a month. He recorded 25 rebounds against the Pelicans in 2016. One-third of his games featured Jordan recording at least 22 rebounds or more. Jordan’s career might be on the decline right now, which could lower his career average of 10.3 rebounds.
3. Dwight Howard – 82 Games
Howard led the league in rebounding five times in his career. While playing for the Magic, Lakers, and Rockets, Howard made eighth straight All-Star selections with his rebounding and shot-blocking being one of his best qualities. Howard averaged double-digit rebounds 14 straight seasons since coming into the league in 2004.
Howard continued to be a dominant rebounder past his All-Star years. That included recording his one 30-rebound game with the Hornets in 2018. Howard recorded 15 games with at least 24 rebounds or more.
2. Andre Drummond – 88 Games
Once Howard’s reign was over, Drummond slid in as the next rebounding king. Drummond led the league four times between 2016 and 2020. That included averaging 16.0 rebounds in 2017-18, 15.6 rebounds the following season, and then 15.8 rebounds in 49 games with the Pistons in 2019-20 before being traded to the Cavaliers.
As a member of the Pistons, Drummond reached 27 rebounds two times, while his career-high of 29 rebounds came in 2015 against the Pacers. Drummond had 14 games of at least 24 rebounds or more. During that time, he sprinkled in one 24-rebound game with the Cavaliers and one 25-rebound game with the 76ers.
1. Dennis Rodman – 158 Games
When looking at the last four decades, the greatest rebounder we have seen is Dennis Rodman. With the Pistons, Spurs, and Bulls, he had a seven-year run of leading the league in rebounding. During that time, Rodman recorded 30 or more rebounds in a game five times. That included his career-high of 34 rebounds against the Pacers in 1992.
There were 21 instances in which Rodman recorded 26 rebounds or more. That included two games of 29 rebounds, one game of 28 rebounds, six games of 27 rebounds, and seven games of 26 rebounds. Rodman averaged double-digit rebounds in the final 10 seasons of his career. That included two years of over 18.0 rebounds, as well as one season with the Spurs where he averaged 17.3 rebounds per game.
