NBA Players With The Most Rebounds Per Game By Tiers
- There have been just 27 players in NBA history to average 11.0 rebounds per game or more in their NBA careers
- Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell are the only players in NBA history to average 20.0 or more rebounds per game in their careers
- Jerry Lucas, Nate Thurmond, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players to average 20.0 rebounds per game or more in a single season
In the NBA, there are superstars and franchise players who get all the glory as elite scorers, playmakers, and defenders. On any successful, championship-contending team, there are also the elite role players who excel at doing the dirty work such as diving for loose balls and grabbing rebounds. Just as we covered by ranking the NBA players with the most career rebounds, today we show how impactful some of the most elite rebounders in NBA history performed on a per-game basis.
More than anyone else in NBA history, these players made a career out of taking possessions away from their opponents on defense while giving their team extra possessions on offense. Of all the elite rebounders in NBA history, the 27 players below were the only ones guaranteed to go out on the court, give their all, and give their team at least 11.0 rebounds every single night. Although it is not as celebrated as other statistics are in basketball history, these feats of rebounding are astonishing to keep up for the duration of an NBA career.
These are the NBA players with the most career rebounds per game ranked by tiers.
Tier 6 - 11.00 RPG-11.99 RPG
Bill Bridges - 11.94 RPG
Harry Gallatin - 11.89 RPG
Dwight Howard - 11.78 RPG
Charles Barkley - 11.69 RPG
Rudy Gobert - 11.65 RPG
Neil Johnston - 11.35 RPG
Walter Dukes - 11.25 RPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 11.18 RPG
Karl-Anthony Towns - 11.16 RPG
Red Kerr - 11.15 RPG
Hakeem Olajuwon - 11.11 RPG
We get things started off on our list with Tier 6 and the players who averaged between 1.00 and 11.99 rebounds per game in their careers. At the top of this tier is Bill Bridges who averaged 11.94 rebounds per game in hi13 seasons from 1963 through 1975. Bridges was a three-time All-Star in his career as well as an NBA champion in 1975 with the Warriors. From 1965 through 1973, Bridges averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per game every season and 13.3 rebounds per game overall with the Hawks, Sixers, and Lakers.
Harry Gallatin was also a multiple-time All-Star during his days in the 1950s with the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. Gallatin averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per game every season of his career and won his only career rebounding title in 1954 when he averaged 15.3 rebounds per game. Gallatin earned a total of seven All-Star appearances and two All-NBA Team selections in 10 seasons in the NBA.
Dwight Howard was famously one of the most decorated defenders and rebounders during his peak with the Orlando Magic during the 2000s and 2010s. From 2008 through 2013, Howard won five rebounding titles in six seasons averaging 13.7 rebounds per game during that stretch. In the totality of his 18-year career, Howard recorded 14 seasons with at least 10.0 rebounds per game and averaged 11.8 rebounds per game overall.
For as far back as I can remember, Charles Barkley has been referred to as “The Round Mound Of Rebound”. This is due to his long-standing reputation as one of the best rebounders in NBA history. During his 16-year NBA career, Barkley may have captured only one rebounding title but he averaged 10.0 rebounds per game or more every season in which he played other than his rookie year in 1985. Barkley averaged 11.69 rebounds per game for his entire career with the Sixers, Suns, and Rockets.
Rudy Gobert is another three-time Defensive Player of the Year on Tier 6 just like Dwight Howard. Gobert is heading into his 11th season in 2023-24 and has averaged 11.65 rebounds per game during that time. He has averaged 10.5 rebounds per game or more since 201712.6 rebounds per game during that time. Gobert would win his only career rebounding title with the Utah Jazz in 2022 when he averaged 14.7 rebounds per game.
Neil Johnston’s career in the NBA was just eight seasons long from 1952-1959 but it was a tremendously successful one. Johnston won an NBA championship, three scoring titles, and averaged 11.3 rebounds per game in his career. Johnston was a rebounding champion as well in 1955 when he averaged 15.1 rebounds per game. Johnson was also a six-time NBA All-Star who led the league three times in shooting percentage on top of all of his other legendary accomplishments.
Walter Dukes is another NBA big man whose career lasted just a short time in the NBA. Dukes played eight seasons from 1956 through 1963 and averaged 11.3 rebounds per game for his career. Dukes was never a rebounding champion but did average 12.6 rebounds per game in a six-year stretch from 1957 through 1962. Dukes would go on to make two All-Star teams with the Detroit Pistons in 1960 and 1961 but with no other major accolades to his name.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also a member of Tier six which is incredible considering he had to maintain his 11.2 rebounds per game average over the course of 20 seasons. Between his rookie season in 1970 and 1981, Kareem averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per game every season and 14.1 rebounds per game on that stretch overall. He would win just one rebounding title in 1976 with the Lakers averaging 16.9 rebounds per game.
Universally, Karl-Anthony Towns is not known as one of the better rebounders in the NBA. Yet, he has done enough to make it on Tier 6 with a career 1.2 rebounds per game average. Towns has only dipped below the 10.0 rebounds per game mark in each of the last two seasons in his career. From 2016 through 2021, Towns was averaging 11.6 rebounds per game for his career before the slight drop in production. Towns has been a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player with the Timberwolves through eight seasons in the NBA.
Red Kerr stood just 6’9’’ yet played 12 seasons as a center in the NBA with the Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers, and Baltimore Bullets. Kerr was never a rebounding champion but went on a stretch from 1957 through 1964 where he averaged 12.9 rebounds per game. Kerr would go on to win an NBA championship in 1955 along with three All-Star selections while averaging 13.8 points and 11.2 rebounds for his career.
The final member of Tier 6 is one of the greatest centers in NBA history. Hakeem Olajuwon is the all-time leader in blocks per game in NBA history as well as total blocks. When it comes to rebounds per game, he ranks just 27th in NBA history at 11.1 rebounds per game. Olajuwon did win back-to-back rebounding titles in 1989 and 1990 with the Rockets and was a consistent 10.0 rebounds per game played for the first 13 seasons of his career. Olajuwon would win two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, an MVP, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards in 18 seasons in the NBA.
Tier 5 - 12.00 RPG-12.99 RPG
Willis Reed - 12.94 RPG
Gus Johnson - 12.70 RPG
Andre Drummond - 12.69 RPG
Elvin Hayes - 12.49 RPG
Moses Malone - 12.20 RPG
Dolph Schayes - 12.08 RPG
Tier 5 consists of the NBA players who rank from 11th through 16th in NBA history in rebounds per game. To Kick off Tier 5, we have Willis Reed, former two-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP with the New York Knicks. Reed was an incredible rebounder before his injuries began to pile up. He averaged 10.0 or more rebounds per game in each of the first seven seasons of his career which were coincidentally his seven career All-Star seasons. During that time from 1965 through 1971, Reed averaged 13.8 rebounds per game to go along with his 20.1 points per game scoring and 47.7% shooting.
Gus Johnson is another Hall of Famer to grace our list as well as a former five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA Team selection. Johnson played 10 seasons in the NBA from 1964 through 1973 with the Bullets and Suns. Johnson averaged 10.0 or more rebounds per game in each of the first eight seasons of his career which peaked at 17.1 rebounds per game in 1971.
Andre Drummond is the only active NBA player to make his way onto Tier 5. Drummond has been widely regarded as one of the best rebounders in basketball since his debut in 2012-13. In a five-year stretch from 2016 through 2020, Drummond would average 15.0 rebounds per game and win four rebounding titles in five seasons. Drummond has grabbed at least 10.0 rebounds per game in eight of his 11 seasons in the NBA with the Pistons, Cavaliers, Lakers, Sixers, Nets, and Bulls.
Elvin Hayes is still one of the most underrated players in NBA history. Hayes was a 12-time All-Star in the NBA as well as an NBA champion and two-time rebounding champion. He won his first rebounding title in his second season in 1970 averaging 16.9 rebounds per game. He added another in 1974 with 18.1 rebounds per game as well. From 1969 through 1980, Hayes had a 12-year stretch in which he averaged 10.0 or more rebounds per game every season and 14.2 rebounds per game overall.
When digging into his numbers, there is no doubt as to why they called Moses Malone “The Chairman Of The Boards. Malone recorded the most offensive rebounds in NBA history with 7,382 and led the NBA nine times in that stat. He also won six rebounding titles in a seven-year stretch from 1979 through 1985 while averaging 14.8 rebounds per game overall. Malone even eclipsed 15.0 rebounds per game three times in his career all while averaging at least 22.0 points per game. Malone would win three MVP awards, an NBA title, and a Finals MVP in his 21 years in the NBA.
The final member of Tier 5 is Dolph Schayes who played 15 seasons from 1950 through 1964. Schayes was as consistent as they come as a rebounder, recording 11 seasons with at least 12.0 rebounds per game in a row from 1951 through 1961. Schayes would help the Nationals win an NBA championship in 1955 as well with 12 All-Star and 12 All-NBA Team selections to his name.
Tier 4 - 13.00-13.99 RPG
Wes Unseld - 13.99 RPG
Walt Bellamy - 13.65 RPG
Dave Cowens - 13.63 RPG
Elgin Baylor - 13.55 RPG
Dennis Rodman - 13.12 RPG
Tier 4 features the five NBA players in NBA history who rank sixth through 10th in NBA history in rebounds per game as well as the players who averaged from 13.0 to 13.9 rebounds per game in their careers. Leading things off in this tier is Wes Unseld, the former MVP and Finals MVP for the Washington Bullets. Unseld played 13 seasons in the NBA and averaged under 10.0 rebounds per game just once. Unseld won one rebounding title in 1975 with 14.8 rebounds per game but also recorded five seasons with over 15.0 rebounds per game in his career.
Walt Bellamy is another underrated big man in NBA history who played 14 seasons in the NBA with the Zephyrs, Bullets, Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, and Jazz. Bellamy was never a rebounding champion but that didn’t stop him from grabbing at least 10.0 rebounds per game in all but three seasons of his career. Bellamy grabbed at least 15.0 rebounds per game five times as well and was named the 1962 Rookie of the Year after averaging 31.6 points and 19.0 rebounds per game.
Dave Cowens is a former MVP for the Boston Celtics who played his entire career with the team from 1971 through 1983. Cowens was one of the NBA’s best rebounders particularly from 1971 through 1978 when he averaged 15.2 rebounds per game and had five seasons with at least 15.0 rebounds per game or more. Cowens would help the Celtics win the 1974 and 1976 NBA championships while averaging 14.4 rebounds per game in his playoff career.
Elgin Baylor is known for his all-around game that helped the Lakers reach eight NBA Finals in his career. Although he never won one of those NBA titles, Baylor impressed as a rebounder and is the only small forward to be ranked in the top 45 players in career rebounds per game. Baylor averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per game in 11 of 14 seasons played in his career with four seasons of at least 15.0 rebounds per game.
The final member of Tier 4 is none other than Dennis Rodman. In the last 40 years, Rodman has recorded the four highest rebounding seasons ever while grabbing at least 20 rebounds in a game against every NBA team besides the Toronto Raptors. Rodman had an incredible seven straight rebounding titles from 1992 through 1998 averaging 16.7 rebounds per game. Rodman averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per game in a season 10 times and 15.0 rebounds per game six times.
Tier 3 - 15.00-15.99 RPG
Jerry Lucas - 15.61 RPG
Nate Thurmond - 15.00 RPG
There are just two all-time great NBA legends on Tier 3 who have averaged between 15.0 and 15.0 rebounds per game in their careers. Jerry Lucas is quietly one of the best rebounders in NBA history with his 15.6 rebounds per game average over the course of 11 seasons. Lucas recorded 20.0 points and 20.0 rebounds per game twice in the same season in 1965 and 1966, one of very few players in NBA history to achieve that accomplishment. Lucas has seven seasons in which he averaged more than 15.0 rebounds per game and nine seasons with at least 10.0 rebounds per game.
Nate Thurmond is another all-time great forward/center who does not get enough credit for his rebounding efforts. Thurmond also had himself 20.0 points and 20.0 rebounds per game season in 1967 as well as one other season with at least 20.0 rebounds per game. Of his 14 seasons in the NBA, eight of them came with at least 15.0 rebounds per game and 12 of them came with at least 10.0 rebounds per game. Thurmond was a seven-time All-Star as well as a five-time All-Defensive Team selection.
Tier 2 - 16.00 RPG-16.99 RPG
Bob Pettit - 16.22 RPG
There is only one player in NBA history to average between 16.0 and 16.9 rebounds per game in his career. That would be two-time MVP and former NBA champion Bob Pettit who played 11 seasons in the NBA from 1955 through 1965, all for the St. Louis Hawks. Pettit never won a rebounding title either but averaged over 10.0 rebounds per game every season of his career. He averaged at least 15.0 rebounds per game eight times and even added 20.0 points and 20.0 rebounds per game in a season himself in 1961.
Tier 1 - 22.00 RPG+
Wilt Chamberlain - 22.89 RPG
Bill Russell - 22.45 RPG
The two most elite rebounders in the history of the NBA were Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Chamberlain is the NBA’s all-time leader in rebounding titles with 11 wins in 13 seasons in the NBA. Chamberlain averaged no less than 18.0 rebounds per game every season of his career and averaged more than 20.0 rebounds per game 10 times which came in his first 10 seasons in the NBA. If anyone showed dominance as both a scorer and rebounder simultaneously in their NBA career, it was Wilt Chamberlain who was the most dominant by a mile.
The other NBA player to average at least 22.0 rebounds per game in his NBA career is Bill Russell. Mastering the art of rebounding, Russell would also become the NBA’s winningest player ever with 11 NBA championships in just 13 seasons. Russell averaged 20.0 or more rebounds per game 10 times in his career and never averaged less than 18.6 rebounds per game in a season. He would win a total of five rebounding titles in his career and it would have been more had it not been for Wilt. Russell is arguably the greatest rebounder in NBA history along with Chamberlain. It is safe to say that these two career rebounds per game average will never be touched again in NBA history.
