Did you know who averaged 27 rebounds per game?

Number 3 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1969 – 1989, 17,440 Rebounds

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Number one in a lot of lists, but not here. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second, well actually third on the all time rebounding list, only to the two giants who ruled the game during the 60’s. Kareem averaged 11.2 rebounds per game in his career, with his numbers dropping drastically in his second decade of play. His average is 24th best all time. He led the league in rebounding only once, in 1976, his debut year with the Lakers, averaging 16.9 rebounds per game. He averaged more than 10 in his first 12 seasons.

Kareem is a six time NBA champion and a six time NBA MVP, a 19 time All Star, and of course one of the greatest 50 players of all time.

Number 2 (Bill Russell) and

Number 1 (Wilt Chamberlain)

For statistical purposes only, Chamberlain is number one all time with 23,924 rebounds in 1045 games and Bill Russell is second with 21,620 rebounds in 963 games. Wilt averaged 22.9 in his career, Russell averaged 22.5. They both deserve the top spot. Both men are the only players in history with more than 20,000 rebounds in their career and a career average of more than 20 rebounds per game. The closest is Bob Petit with 16.9. Both represent an age in basketball when a center stood beneath the basket and no one got near him, no one could compete with him, with them. Close friends throughout their career until the 1969 NBA Finals, when Russell accused Chamberlain of copping out of a game in the face of a defeat, and Chamberlain later called Russell a backstabber. The two didn’t speak for more than 20 years after that. Chamberlain has the record for most rebounds in a game, 55, while Russell is second with 53, the only two men to grab more than 50 rebounds in one game. The list goes on and on… but the bottom line is, these two had one of the best individual rivalries in the history of the NBA and maybe team sports. Chamberlain maybe had a better stat line, but Russell had the titles. Chamberlain had two NBA titles, Russell had eleven. Russell was a five time MVP, Chamberlain was a four time MVP. Chamberlain did win more rebounding titles – he led the league in rebounding 11 times, while Russell led the league five times. Russell’s best was 24.7 in 1964, Chamberlain’s best was in 1961 – 27.2 rebounds per game.

What about active players?

The only three players in the top 30 all time are Shaquille O’neal, who’s 12,566 rebounds put him at 15th. His average of 11.2 is 24th best all time.

Kevin Garnett is 22nd all time in total rebounds with 11,682 and an average of 11.1.

Tim Duncan is 28th all time, with 10,547 rebounds and an average of 11.7 per game, 20th best all time.

And two more – Dennis Rodman – the rebound king of the 1990’s – 20th best all time with 11,954 rebounds and an average of 13.1, 11th best all time.

Dwight Howard’s 12.5 rebounds per game in his short career put him 14th best all time.

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