The Greatest Rebounder

[jlauber]

Ok, maybe this topic has been covered before, but who was/is the NBA's greatest rebounder???

Game, season, post-season, career...anyway you want to slice it.

Give me your thoughts.

[Batz]

Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russel, Dennis Rodman.

[Freshprince619]

Rodman. He did it without a substantial height and size advantage wilt and russell had.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Rodman. Averaging 18+ rebounds per game twice in the 90's is mindblowing. Led the league in rebounding 7 consecutive seasons with averages of 18.7, 18.3, 17.3, 16.8, 14.9, 16.1 and 15 per game, respectively. At 38 years old, he played 12 games with the Mavs in the 2000 season and amazingly, he averaged 14.3 rpg in 32 mpg. Whenever I watched Rodman it just seemed like he was quicker to the ball than anyone else and he he'd tip it a few times until he could get control and he'd almost always come away with the rebound.

[gts]

Rodman, all time leader in rebound percentage...

[Basketman]

Definitely Rodman. Wilt and Russell played with guys who were shorter, weaker, and less athletic. Weak competition. Rodman led the league in rebounds with dominant big men like Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O'Neal, etc. He is the greatest rebounder.

[Apocalyptic0n3]

Rodman without a doubt. He was the greatest rebounder of one of the most physical and defensive eras in history.

[JtotheIzzo]

[jlauber]

I have mentioned it before, but the NBA record books added TEAM rebounds into the the era of the 60's and at least the early part of the 70's...and then at some point (I haven't taken the time to find it), they suddenly decided not to include them.

For example, Wilt's 60-61 Warriors are credited with 5939 rebounds, but they actually only had 5276. Wilt's 66-67 76ers are listed with 5701, but actually only had 5104.

In contrast, the 95-96 Bulls are listed with 3658 rebounds, which is exactly what they had.

I bring that up, because that basically blows up this perception that Wilt was playing in an era in which there were twice as many rebounds available. Using the 95-96 Bulls and the 60-61 Warriors as examples...the Bulls averaged 44 rpg, while the Warriors averaged 66.

And, those examples are basically the biggest spread. Shaq's 2000 Lakers averaged 47 rpg, and Motumbo's Hawks averaged 45 rpg that same year, while Wilt's 1967 76ers averaged 62 rpg.

What does that mean? That this perception that the top centers of the 90's, who were averaging 13-14 rpg, were just as competitive as the top centers of the 60's, who were averaging 24-27 rpg.

Clearly, Rodman's 18.7 in 91-92 in 40 mpg, on a team that averaged 44 was sensational. It even dwarfs Wilt's 60-61 (Rodman would have averaged 28.1 rpg to Wilt's 27.2...and in seven minutes less per game.

HOWEVER, take a look at the POST-SEASON averages...where even Rodman drops to ordinary (9.9 rpg...compared to his 13.8 rpg regular season.) In the post-season, Wilt and Russell had numerous 26-30 rpg years. Wilt even had series' against Russell, in which he averaged 32 rpg (to Russell's 23 rpg.)

I have said it before, but Wilt outrebounded EVERYBODY. He outrebounded Russell, Thurmond, and Kareem. And using the "mini stat" of "Available Rebounds", 7-0 Tom Boerwinkle was a better rebounder than Wilt in the 72-73 season. In the playoffs, Wilt outrebounded him 161-9...and while Boerwinkle could only stay on the floor for 30 minutes in the entire series, his average was still WAY below Wilt's, per minute played.

[jlauber]

Speaking of the post-season, let's compare Shaq's game two of the 2000 Finals, with Wilt's game five of the 1972 Finals.

Shaq played 46 minutes, and grabbed 24 rebounds. Both teams combined for 125 rebounds (LA had 66, while Indiana had 59.)

Wilt played 47 minutes, and grabbed 29 rebounds. Both teams totaled 106 rebounds (LA had 67 while NY had 39.) In fact, wilt nearly outrebounded the ENTIRE Knick team...all with two badly injured wrists, and at age 35.

That was just one example just how dominant Wilt was in the post-season, BTW. Once again, he had post-season's in which he averaged 30 rpg. In fact, he averaged 24.5 rpg in his CAREER 160 post-season games. AND, he never had a post-season in which he averaged less than 20 rpg. Even in his final post-season, and at age 36, he averaged 22.5 rpg.

[jlauber]

This is a dumb thread Dennis Rodman is the undisputed Rebounding King. The guy was a madman on the boards.

Especially in the post-season, where he pulled down 9.9 rpg.

[Freshprince619]

Especially in the post-season, where he pulled down 9.9 rpg.

When your a rebounding machine like Rodman ppl will single you out and box you out before the ball leaves shooters hand

[jlauber]

When your a rebounding machine like Rodman ppl will single you out and box you out before the ball leaves shooters hand

So, then, he could be stopped. The same could not be said for Chamberlain...who, once again, outrebounded EVERYBODY...and DOMINATED them in the post-season.

[Freshprince619]

So, then, he could be stopped. The same could not be said for Chamberlain...who, once again, outrebounded EVERYBODY...and DOMINATED them in the post-season.

Rebounding is a skill. Chamberlain just got rebounds because he was far more athletic and taller then everybody. Rodman was a beast with timing, knowing where ball would bounce to etc

[jlauber]

Rebounding is a skill. Chamberlain just got rebounds because he was far more athletic and taller then everybody. Rodman was a beast with timing, knowing where ball would bounce to etc

Those who witnessed him play would say the same thing about Russell.