The 20 NBA Players With The Most Rebounds Per Game In The Last 40 Years: Dennis Rodman Is The GOAT Of Rebounding

A player must have accomplished something spectacular to have career-long rebounding totals that broke records. Records that have actually endured the test of time can only be attained by the greatest players of all time in that respective attribute. We have compiled a list of the best rebounders over the last 40 years, where players with a natural ability to read where the ball bounces off the rim found ways to accomplish spectacular showings on the stat sheets year after year. However, only a few players truly stand out to get an indication of the best players with spectacular rebounding talents.

By gathering the rebounds per game figures of the elite rebounders in NBA history, we have collected the best players ever based on their total rebounds in the regular season while also taking into account that their spectacular talents will distinguish them. Some of these names will be easily recognizable because they are regarded as some of the most excellent rebounders to ever play professional basketball. Here are the greatest rebounders in NBA history in terms of rebounds per game in the regular season for players among all the positions. It is important to note that only players with at least 50 games played in a particular season will be taken into account. 

20. Dwight Howard – 14.5 RPG (2011-12 NBA Season)

One of the greatest defensive players of all time and a rebounding machine, Dwight Howard is destined for the Hall of Fame. Even if he did not quite reach the heights expected of him because of his incredible physical gifts, he still forged a Hall of Fame career due to his 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards and 8 All-Star appearances as a member of the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets.

Dwight managed an impressive 14.5 RPG during the 2012 season, a season after his third-straight Defensive Player of the Year award. The center also led the NBA in rebounds 5 times and will go down in history to being one of the most impactful defenders of all time, whether fans like it or not.

19. Charles Barkley – 14.6 RPG (1986-87 NBA Season)

Charles Barkley was undersized at 6’6” and 252 lbs, but he obviously had the girth and aggression to be an effective paint enforcer. Barkley was a terrific rebounder, averaging 11.7 RPG for his career and leading the league in rebounds once. That came in the 1987 season when Charles averaged 14.6 RPG as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. He also had seasons posting 13.5 RPG and 12.8 RPG.

Barkley was a force at boxing opponents out and grabbing the rim. It is often mentioned how rebounding comes down to pure effort, and very few players wanted to grab rebounds more than Charles. If Barkley was at least a few inches taller, he might have broken some rebounding records because he had a knack for anticipating where the ball would bounce off the rim.

18. Moses Malone – 14.7 RPG (1981-82 NBA Season)

Moses Malone might be the greatest offensive rebounder of all time because he was relentless when it came to getting putbacks and scoring inside. Moses was a big man at 6’10” and 215 lbs, but he wasn’t necessarily the biggest player on the court at all times. His raw determination and aggression helped him crash the boards during the 1980s, and he led the league in RPG in 1982 when he posted 14.7 RPG.

Moses led the NBA in RPG 6 times in his career and even had a season when he posted 17.6 RPG as a member of the Houston Rockets. That happened in 1979, which was at least 43 years ago. But his excellent season since 1979 came in 1982 when he averaged 14.7 RPG for the Houston Rockets, and he also won the MVP award as a result.

17. Rudy Gobert – 14.7 RPG (2021-22 NBA Season)

Rudy Gobert is a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, which might seem surprising when you compare him to other elite defensive players in his position with the same number of award wins. But the Frenchman is a terrific paint defender in the modern NBA because he is extremely long and at 7’1” and 258 lbs, he has the size to be an imposing player.

Gobert led the NBA in RPG one time, in the 2022 NBA season, when he dropped 14.7 RPG for the Utah Jazz. The Frenchman has long arms to snag rebounds at a high level, as his main focus was blocking shots, contesting shots, and coming up with boards. Gobert certainly ranks among the best when taking his 2022 season into consideration.

16. Andre Drummond – 14.8 RPG (2015-16 NBA Season)

Andre Drummond has quietly gone down as one of the greatest rebounders of all time. For some reason, Drummond does not get enough credit, and he has been basically been forced to accept a reserve role in the modern NBA. The days of an offensively limited center who focuses on crashing boards and playing defense are over.

But Drummond has been a terrific rebounder and will appear on this list more than a few times. His first great season came in 2016 as a member of the Detroit Pistons when he posted 14.8 RPG to win his first rebounding title. Drummond also made his first All-Star Team because he also contributed 16.2 PPG and 1.4 BPG in a then career-high 32.9 MPG. Obviously, Andre was beginning to find his niche as a dominant rebounder.

15. Dennis Rodman – 14.9 RPG (1995-96 NBA Season)

In his first season with the Chicago Bulls, Dennis Rodman was fantastic at rebounding the basketball. The Worm began to express himself in some incredible ways on and off the court, mainly via his attire and off-court interests. Whether it was living his nightlife dreams or dressing in an unorthodox manner, Rodman arrived as a bona fide star and fan favorite.

But that did not take away from Rodman’s ability to rebound the ball, because he led the NBA for the 5th time in a row with his third different team. The Worm was a master at watching tape and preparing for games because he knew that rebounding would give his side the best chance to win. Of course, Rodman was part of the Chicago Bulls core that won the 1996 NBA championship.

14. DeAndre Jordan – 15.0 RPG (2014-15 NBA Season)

DeAndre Jordan, known as “DJ” was a key part of the “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Jordan averaged 15.0 RPG in the 2015 season, a very impressive number for a center who was taken No. 35 overall in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. Through hard work, Jordan became a defensive star with Los Angeles.

Jordan lacked the offensive ability to be a superstar, but he was very effective at rebounding, blocking shots, and defending the rim. At 6’11” and 265 lbs, DeAndre was sensational at using his size and even his explosiveness to come up with boards. As expected, Jordan led the NBA in RPG in 2015, which was his second time since the 2014 season.

13. Dennis Rodman – 15.0 RPG (1997-98 NBA Season)

In the final “Last Dance” season with the Chicago Bulls, Dennis Rodman was sensational at rebounding the ball, as usual. The Worm studied opponents, knew where the ball would go most times, and did his role as perfectly as possible to help Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen led the team to their final championship at the end of the year.

Rodman’s role as a defender and rebounder was arguably just as critical as Michael’s role in scoring and Pippen’s role in all-around ability. Dennis was not much of an offensive player, because that wasn’t needed when MJ was posting at least 30 PPG. But he was the best rebounder in the world, completing his 7th season in a row as the NBA’s leading rebounder in statistics.

12. Andre Drummond – 15.2 RPG (2019-20 NBA Season)

Andre Drummond also led the NBA in RPG in the 2020 season, when he posted 15.2 RPG as a member of the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was the season when big men started becoming exiled because Drummond’s inability to score beyond 5 feet was becoming a problem for a five-out offense that needed shooters.

But the center was still a dominant rebounder, posting 15.8 RPG through 49 games played with the Pistons and 11.1 RPG with the Cavaliers in 8 games after getting traded. Drummond was still a consistent rebounder even if he was not wanted by either the Pistons or Cavaliers, but for some reason, he was no longer as impactful, which goes to show how much the game has changed.

11. DeAndre Jordan – 15.2 RPG (2017-18 NBA Season)

DeAndre Jordan actually did not lead the NBA in RPG in the 2018 season, but he did post an incredible 15.2 RPG. Jordan was the defensive enforcer for the Los Angeles Clippers, who needed the center’s ability to defend the rim in order to reach a higher level of play. Unfortunately, the 2018 season would be the last time Jordan played a full season with the Clippers.

The center would join the Mavericks and then the Knicks in the 2019 season, and a decline in his production would soon follow. But he did manage to have the 10th best rebounding season in the last forty years in 2018, nonetheless, and it was impressive to see the big man sky up in the air for boards. While Blake Griffin was the main talking point for the “Lob City” era, DeAndre Jordan was right behind him.

10. Kevin Love – 15.2 RPG (2010-11 NBA Season)

Kevin Love might have started to reach superstar status for the first time in his career in the 2011 season. The power forward began putting up ridiculous numbers, unlike anything we have seen before because he was pulling down 15.2 RPG while scoring 20 PPG and shooting 41.7% from the three-point line. The modern big man was being created.

Love was sensational at crashing the boards, using his powerful center of gravity to box opponents out and get to rebounds first. He also had an unbelievable determination to rebound, as he never quite reached that standard of rebounding again in his career. The next-best season of Love’s career came in 2013 when he posted 14.0 RPG followed by the 2012 season when he had 13.3 RPG.

9. Moses Malone – 15.3 RPG (1982-83 NBA Season)

Moses Malone followed up his terrific 1982 campaign with a 1983 campaign in which he pulled down 15.3 RPG. Moses was terrific on the offensive side of the floor, coming up with rebounds off his own missed shots or his teammate’s missed shots and getting easy layups. As expected, Malone ended up winning the 1983 MVP award for the second year in a row.

Moses was a Hall of Fame rebounder and paint enforcer, coming up with countless boards season after season. But his 1983 season was the second-highest of his career because his 1979 season was iconic when he pulled down 17.6 RPG, which would make it into the top-3 on this list, taking into account over 40 years ago.

8. Ben Wallace – 15.4 RPG (2002-03 NBA Season)

A Hall of Famer and 4-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, Ben Wallace was a force on the boards during his prime. As a member of the talented Detroit Pistons team, Wallace posted an impressive 15.4 RPG which ranks 7th among all players since the 1982 season. Despite being undersized at 6’9”, Wallace knew how to battle in the paint to crash the boards.

The main reasons? For one, he was 240 lbs of raw muscle, which gave him a strength advantage over almost any player. Secondly, he wanted it more than anybody else. Big Ben always played with a chip on his shoulder, knowing he was shorter than most centers, and did not allow that to threaten his status as one of the greatest defensive players and rebounders of all time.

7. Kevin Willis – 15.5 RPG (1991-92 NBA Season)

Kevin Willis only made one All-Star Team in his career, and it came in the 1992 season when he was an absolute force when it came to crashing the boards. The big man occupied the power forward position during the year, shattering his second-best record of 12.9 RPG, which came a year later in the 1993 season. The big man also had 5 seasons averaging at least 10 RPG.

Willis was a lengthy big man at 7’0” and 220 lbs, with long arms and a tenacity that was truly impressive. His 1992 season was his best in terms of numbers, posting 15.5 RPG to go along with 18.3 PPG and 0.7 BPG. Willis also made the All-NBA Team, which was his only true individual accolade beyond the 2003 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs.

6. Andre Drummond – 15.6 RPG (2018-19 NBA Season)

For the third time on the list, Andre Drummond appears with an average of at least 15 RPG. He managed that in the 2019 season with the Detroit Pistons when he averaged 15.6 RPG through 79 games played with 79 starts. The center was the core of the Pistons franchise because he also chipped in 17.3 PPG in 33.5 MPG.

Andre Drummond was a force inside, using his size at 6’10” and 279 lbs to battle down low and crash the boards. The Pistons knew they had the NBA’s leading rebounder at their disposal, and tried to maximize his impact by giving him some touches and plays to score. But overall, Drummond proved he was a very consistent rebounder because he followed up a terrific 2018 campaign.

5. Andre Drummond – 16.0 RPG (2017-18 NBA Season)

In 2018, Andre Drummond managed a very impressive 16.0 RPG average as a member of the Detroit Pistons. The center chipped in 15.0 PPG as well, proving to be a consistent double-double threat who played within his limits. Drummond knew his value came on the boards, and he did it better than anyone else during the season.

The center’s output in 2018 ranks 4th on this list among players with the highest RPG average over the last forty years. The center knew his limitations, worked on becoming the best rebounder since Dennis Rodman and was certainly impressive in achieving 4 rebounding titles. Sure, being 6’10” with tremendous length helps, but Drummond is simply a natural-born rebounder and his numbers prove that.

4. Dennis Rodman – 16.1 RPG (1996-97 NBA Season)

Dennis Rodman has clearly not flown under the radar in terms of being an effective rebounder, mainly because his playing style is extremely eye-catching even if he is not much of an offensive threat. But no doubt, The Worm made use of whatever size he had at 6’7” and 210 lbs to go along with elite athleticism to reach for rebounds and come up with big-time boards. In 1997, as a member of the Chicago Bulls, Rodman averaged 16.1 RPG.

That is good enough for 4th all-time over the last 40 years, an impressive return for a player who was taken 27th overall in the 1986 NBA Draft. Rodman was not supposed to be a defensive star considering he was taken so low in the draft, but he reached that level by working hard, focusing on his strengths, and rebounding the ball with aggression and efficiency. Of course, Rodman elevated his play by playing on some all-time great teams, including the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, and the Chicago Bulls. 

3. Dennis Rodman – 17.3 RPG (1993-94 NBA Season)

In his first season with the San Antonio Spurs, Dennis Rodman was sensational at rebounding the ball. He played in 79 games, started 51, and played 37.8 MPG for the iconic franchise. Rodman was exactly what the Spurs needed in terms of being an elite rebounder and defender because that was the player’s main focus despite having off-court disturbances.

Rodman was a slightly better player when he played with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, but he was still an elite rebounder despite his growing interest in particular off-court activities. Amazingly, Rodman led the NBA in RPG during the two seasons he played with the Spurs and amazingly appears multiple times on this list.

2. Dennis Rodman – 18.3 RPG (1992-93 NBA Season)

Dennis Rodman averaged 18.3 RPG in 1993, as a member of the Detroit Pistons. Obviously, the year prior he would average at least 18 RPG for the Pistons and a year later he would lead the NBA in RPG with 17.3 RPG. But his season in 1993 was just as impressive because he started in 55 games out of 62 played and still put up ridiculous rebounds.

Rodman played an impressive 38.9 MPG and the fact that he only averaged 7.5 PPG on 42.7% shooting is an indication of what he did best. Dennis was also a terrific defensive player, occupying the paint, but also switching out to forwards and guards when necessary. We haven’t seen many players with the ability of Dennis Rodman when it came to defense and especially in rebounds.

1. Dennis Rodman – 18.7 RPG (1991-92 NBA Season)

Starting the trifecta of rebounding figures in terms of ranking on this list, Dennis Rodman led the NBA in rebounds and shattered the mold in the past 40 years with an average of 18.7 RPG. The 1992 season also became the first one in which Rodman led the league in rebounds, which kicked off a streak of 7 in a row. Dennis simply knew how to rebound better than anybody else in history.

There were countless tapes of Rodman studying how opposing players would shoot and where the ball would come off the rim. A player with little-to-no offensive ability, Dennis knew he had to focus purely on rebounding and he did it at the best level. Amazingly, Rodman was only 6’7” but played as if he was a 7-footer with unique physical gifts. 

Next

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