Who was/is the best rebounder ever?

[Im Still Ballin]

Moses Malone? Dennis Rodman? Wilt Chamberlain? Bill Russell? Someone else?

[Xiao Yao You]

Gobert 4th in total rebound % and 2nd in defensive rebound % all time

[L.Kizzle]

Wilt Chamberlain easily.

[L.Kizzle]

Dennis Rodman is 23rd in total rebounds and 10th in avg rebounds.
Wilt is 1st in both.

[1987_Lakers]

Rodman, quite easily.

Wilt & Russell were getting their rebounds in an era where there were more missed shots and teams played at a crazy fast pace, this inflated their numbers. Rodman was averaging godly rebounding numbers in the 90's, which were slower pace compared to the 60's and 80's.

[1987_Lakers]

Drummond also needs to be in this convo.

Walton wasn't the GOAT rebounder, but he was pretty elite at it when he was healthy. His name never gets brought up in these convos.

[L.Kizzle]

Rodman, quite easily.

Wilt & Russell were getting their rebounds in an era where there were more missed shots and teams played at a crazy fast pace, this inflated their numbers. Rodman was averaging godly rebounding numbers in the 90's, which were slower pace compared to the 60's and 80's.
Wilt was getting 23 boards while avg 30 points and probably 8+ blocks a game.
Imagine if Wilt just concentrated on rebounds like Rodman. He would have probably snatched down every missed shot.

[Xiao Yao You]

Rodman, quite easily.

Wilt & Russell were getting their rebounds in an era where there were more missed shots and teams played at a crazy fast pace, this inflated their numbers. Rodman was averaging godly rebounding numbers in the 90's, which were slower pace compared to the 60's and 80's.

Rodman #1 off reb(only kept the last 50 years) % 2 tot % 6 def %

Only last 3 year's of Wilt's career. He was 2nd-6th. 2nd in % playoffs

[Xiao Yao You]

Drummond also needs to be in this convo.

Walton wasn't the GOAT rebounder, but he was pretty elite at it when he was healthy. His name never gets brought up in these convos.

Drummond 1st total reb and def % all time. 2nd in off reb %. Great argument for him. Still not a HOFer!

Walton doesn't qualify but was elite defensive rebounder in his day

[1987_Lakers]

Wilt was getting 23 boards while avg 30 points and probably 8+ blocks a game.
Imagine if Wilt just concentrated on rebounds like Rodman. He would have probably snatched down every missed shot.

Like I said, he played in an era where stats were inflated. In his last 3 seasons in the NBA he averaged a godly 19 RPG, but his TRB% was only at 19 (Which is still pretty damn elite).

Compare that to Rodman who usually hovered around 26 TRB%.

[L.Kizzle]

Like I said, he played in an era where stats were inflated. In his last 3 seasons in the NBA he averaged a godly 19 RPG, but his TRB% was only at 19 (Which is still pretty damn elite).

Compare that to Rodman who usually hovered around 26 TRB%.
If his numbers were inflated, everyone would be getting those types of boards. Nobody comes close to Wilt and Russell in rebounding nunbers. They are both 6-7 boards higher then the next group of gentlemen.
Rodman is the best of his generation but definitely not the best of All-Time, the numbers don't match up.
Imagine only leading the league in rebounds four times and being considered the best rebounder ever ... that's Dennis Rodman.

[1987_Lakers]

If his numbers were inflated, everyone would be getting those types of boards. Nobody comes close to Wilt and Russell in rebounding nunbers. They are both 6-7 boards higher then the next group of gentlemen.
Rodman is the best of his generation but definitely not the best of All-Time, the numbers don't match up.
Imagine only leading the league in rebounds four times and being considered the best rebounder ever ... that's Dennis Rodman.

You are so damn stubborn. :oldlol:

I just showed you they were. Nobody from the 80's to the current era is averaging 19 RPG while only having a TRB% of 19.

Put Rodman in the 60's and he probably gets 30 RPG.

[L.Kizzle]

You are so damn stubborn. :oldlol:

I just showed you they were. Nobody from the 80's to the current era is averaging 19 RPG while only having a TRB% of 19.

Put Rodman in the 60's and he probably gets 30 RPG.

Lol, he's not getting 30 rebounds bruh. He's Bill Bridges if he played in the 60s
And what about his low total numbers of rebounds? Idc about no percentages.
Rodman said it himself he went to get every rebound he could at a certain point in his career. Those other players weren't doing that in his era and still getting 14 while scoring 25+ a game.

[PejaTheSerbSnip]

Rodman. Inch-for-inch it’s even less debatable. No one had a knack for prowling the boards like him

[Axe]

Not toody. That's for sure.

[PejaTheSerbSnip]

Lol, he's not getting 30 rebounds bruh. He's Bill Bridges if he played in the 60s
And what about his low total numbers of rebounds? Idc about no percentages.
Rodman said it himself he went to get every rebound he could at a certain point in his career. Those other players weren't doing that in his era and still getting 14 while scoring 25+ a game.


I don’t see the use in giving extra rebounding credit to high-volume scorers. That’s essentially double-counting.

How many athletic guards could’ve been better defenders for longer if they didn’t expend so much energy being a centrepiece of their teams offence? Heaps and heaps. They still don’t deserve that value boost.

[Xiao Yao You]

Not toody. That's for sure.

it has nothing to do with scoring bot

[Jasper]

WILT

doesn't matter what fvck'n era he would of played in , he was the king of rebounds, and will be probably forever(.)

[imdaman99]

No one was hungrier for that rebound than Rodman was. I never watched Wilt play though

[warriorfan]

I don’t see the use in giving extra rebounding credit to high-volume scorers. That’s essentially double-counting.

How many athletic guards could’ve been better defenders for longer if they didn’t expend so much energy being a centrepiece of their teams offence? Heaps and heaps. They still don’t deserve that value boost.

He’s basically talking about talent at rebounding

He’s just saying if Wilt focused 100 percent on rebounding his numbers would be even higher.

You can say Rodman rebounded at a more higher rate, doesn’t necessarily make him the better rebounder.

[Jimmy Rustler]

Wilt is the all time king of rebounds. Hands down.

Rodman is second.

[ILLsmak]

Wilt was getting 23 boards while avg 30 points and probably 8+ blocks a game.
Imagine if Wilt just concentrated on rebounds like Rodman. He would have probably snatched down every missed shot.

It was Rodman because dude was consistently the best in the NBA and % wise way ahead of his peers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nbadiscussion/comments/jpg5l3/what_would_wilt_chamberlain_and_bill_russells/

rando reddit thread, getting lucky on the quick googles today. I got a drawer full of keywords like Billy Mays.

Wilt and Russell were monsters tho, no doubt. But Rodman getting 18 rebs in the modern era is dummm.

-Smak

[Jimmy Rustler]

I appreciate the argument for Rodman, but consider this about Wilt:

NBA record – Career total rebounds (23,924)
NBA record – Career rebounds per game (22.9)
NBA record – Most seasons leading the league in rebounds (11)
NBA record – Most seasons with 1,000 or more rebounds (13)
NBA record – Rebounds per game in a season (27.2)

Chamberlain also holds the next two highest averages with 27.0 in 1959–60 and 25.7 in 1961–62)
Chamberlain and Bill Russell occupy the top 18 spots on this list (9 each).

NBA record – Total Rebounds in a season (2,149 in 1960–1961)

Chamberlain also holds the next six highest totals.

NBA record – Rebounds in a game (55, Philadelphia Warriors vs. Boston Celtics, November 24, 1960)

Besides Bill Russell (11 times, including 3 playoff games, max of 51) only Nate Thurmond (42) and Jerry Lucas (40) have ever gotten at least 40.

NBA record – Most rebounds per game by a rookie in a season (27.0)
NBA record – Most rebounds by a rookie in a season (1,941)
NBA record – Most rebounds by a rookie in a game (45 on February 6, 1960)

Chamberlain, as a rookie, also grabbed 43 rebounds in one game, 42 in two others, and 40 in another.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a single postseason (444 during the 1969 Playoffs).

Chamberlain also has the second-most, with 437 in 1967 Playoffs.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a playoff game (41 against the Boston Celtics, on April 5, 1967).

Game 3 victory in the Eastern Division finals.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a half (26 against the San Francisco Warriors on April 16, 1967)

Also an NBA Finals record.

NBA playoff record – Highest rebounding average in a playoff series (32.0 in a 5-game series against the Boston Celtics in 1967).
NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a 5-game playoff series (160 against the Boston Celtics in 1967).
NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a 6-game playoff series (171 against the San Francisco Warriors in 1967).

Also an NBA Finals record for a 6-game series.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a 7-game playoff series (220 against the Boston Celtics in 1965).
NBA playoff record – Most rebounds by a rookie in a game (35 against the Boston Celtics on March 22, 1960)

Scored a then-playoff record 53 points (still a rookie record) in the same game (a game 5 victory).

NBA Finals record – Highest rebounds per game average, career (24.6)
NBA All-Star Game record – Most career rebounds in the NBA All-Star game (197).
NBA All-Star Game record – Most rebounds in a half (16 in 1960). Record shared with Bob Pettit,


Nobody else can come close to that. He stands alone.

[PejaTheSerbSnip]

He’s basically talking about talent at rebounding

He’s just saying if Wilt focused 100 percent on rebounding his numbers would be even higher.

You can say Rodman rebounded at a more higher rate, doesn’t necessarily make him the better rebounder.

I get that, and can sympathize on some level, I just don’t think it’s entirely fair because beyond being unprovable it also reflects a conscious choice they made to sacrifice rebounding for something else. No one is under the illusion that Rodman was the calibre of player Wilt and Russell were, but he was doubtless a better rebounder. Were they to fully utilize their rebounding talent (for the sake of the argument I’ll agree they left a few boards on the table), they would’ve become less effective players on the whole.

There’s also the more relevant consideration that Prime Rodman created so much separation between him and the other candidates that it takes a massive leap of faith to just assume they’d match him under different circumstances.

[Jimmy Rustler]

I get that, and can sympathize on some level, I just don’t think it’s entirely fair because beyond being unprovable it also reflects a conscious choice they made to sacrifice rebounding for something else. No one is under the illusion that Rodman was the calibre of player Wilt and Russell were, but he was doubtless a better rebounder. Were they to fully utilize their rebounding talent (for the sake of the argument I’ll agree they left a few boards on the table), they would’ve become less effective players on the whole.

There’s also the more relevant consideration that Prime Rodman created so much separation between him and the other candidates that it takes a massive leap of faith to just assume they’d match him under different circumstances.

I know "what ifs" are a rather pointless argument, but if Wilt and Rodman were going head to head for a rebound, I'm confident that Wilt gets the board 9 out of 10 times.

[90sgoat]

Tristan Thompson is one of the best offensive rebounders I've ever seen.

[L.Kizzle]

Rodman led the league in rebounds seven times, but in the playoffs it was a different story. Only twice did he lead the league in playoff boards. He avg under 10 rebounds four times in the playoffs. Wilts lowest playoff is 20.2, highest is 30.2.

[L.Kizzle]

Rodman only seven playoff game with 20+ rebounds. I'm not even gonna compare that to Wilt but a peer of his, Barkley. Chuck had double that with 14.

[Baller234]

Wilt dominated the boards in part due to his physical advantages. It's impressive nonetheless and sure he was ahead of his time, but Rodman's numbers are more impressive to me.

Rodman was leading the league in rebounds at 6'8" and he was usually well ahead of all the elite bigs.

[L.Kizzle]

Wilt dominated the boards in part due to his physical advantages. It's impressive nonetheless and sure he was ahead of his time, but Rodman's numbers are more impressive to me.

Rodman was leading the league in rebounds at 6'8" and he was usually well ahead of all the elite bigs.

Wouldn't this mean Russell Westbrook is the greatest rebounder ever pound for pound? Over four seasons of 10+ at 6'2 PG. If we're using this logic.

[Baller234]

Wouldn't this mean Russell Westbrook is the greatest rebounder ever pound for pound? Over four seasons of 10+ at 6'2 PG. If we're using this logic.

I wasn't really making a pound for pound argument but I could see why you would interpret it that way. Rodman was leading the league in rebounds every year and he was usually well ahead of whoever was in 2nd. I only emphasized his height because that makes it all the more impressive.

Westbrook's numbers are impressive too, but the game is so radically different now. It's less about crashing the boards and more about being in the right place at the right time. More spacing and more long range shooting leads to easier rebounds. In Rodman's era it was way more of a contested battle. Westbrook wouldn't have stood a chance.

[nayte]

I personally think Rodman but can see the arguments for Wilt.
Funny tho that total rebounds don't count for him but others use total points as a reason for other players to be the best at it

[warriorfan]

to put it simplistically, wilt had rim protecting responsibilities while Rodman got to hang out for the rebound.

switch their roles around and yeah.

[jlip]

I remember an interview where Bill Russell talked about this very subject. He was very much taken aback by the fact that some modern analytics guy had come up with a stat like rebound percentages based on the estimated available rebounds while a person was on court. While there is indeed some merit to contextualizing total rebound numbers based on the era that a player played in, it's important to understand that when a player is on the court rebounding, he's not competing against unknown, abstract rebound percentages in an era 30 or 40 years to come in the future. He's competing and rebounding against the real opponents he's facing at the time he's playing.

With that being said, Rodman is easily a top 3-4 rebounder, at worst, all time and the best post merger IMO, but I honestly couldn't see him outrebounding Wilt or Russell head to head, if he had played in the '60s.

[L.Kizzle]

I personally think Rodman but can see the arguments for Wilt.
Funny tho that total rebounds don't count for him but others use total points as a reason for other players to be the best at it

Well, Rodman is 23rd in total rebounds. Not like he's in the top 5 or even top 10. Wilt literally has double more rebounds than Dennis.
There is 10 players from his era with more rebounds than him (not even counting KG and Duncan.) No one from Wilts era is even close to him. Russell is 2000+ behind Wilt. Kareem 6000+ behind Wilt.

[Axe]

it has nothing to do with scoring bot
Meltdown.

[iamgine]

The argument that other players could easily beat Rodman if they only focused on rebounding is irrelevant IMO. If you force Wilt/Shaq/Hakeem to only focus on rebounding, they'd soon got frustrated and lose interest in playing for your team.

It's like saying Shaq could've been one of the greatest heavyweight boxer if he focused on it. Well he didn't and wasn't interested in doing that so it's not relevant in ranking heavyweight boxer.

[L.Kizzle]

The argument that other players could easily beat Rodman if they only focused on rebounding is irrelevant IMO. If you force Wilt/Shaq/Hakeem to only focus on rebounding, they'd soon got frustrated and lose interest in playing for your team.

It's like saying Shaq could've been one of the greatest heavyweight boxer if he focused on it. Well he didn't and wasn't interested in doing that so it's not relevant in ranking heavyweight boxer.
Rodman is less skilled than those guys you mentioned. Rodman wasn't worried about scoring because he wouldn't
Of course those others would get frustrated because they're some of the top scorers ever.
Wilt Chamberlain said he would lead the assist for a season and did just that. He was already leading the league in scoring and rebounds (and unofficial blocks.) I mean, what's left for him to do. If he wanted to get every single missed shot, he most likely could have.

[iamgine]

Rodman is less skilled than those guys you mentioned. Rodman wasn't worried about scoring because he wouldn't
Of course those others would get frustrated because they're some of the top scorers ever.
Wilt Chamberlain said he would lead the assist for a season and did just that. He was already leading the league in scoring and rebounds (and unofficial blocks.) I mean, what's left for him to do. If he wanted to get every single missed shot, he most likely could have.

That's why it's irrelevant whether they could or not. Shaq could've been one of the greatest heavyweight boxer if he focused on it. He didn't and wasn't interested in doing that so it's not relevant in ranking heavyweight boxer.

[Xiao Yao You]

to put it simplistically, wilt had rim protecting responsibilities while Rodman got to hang out for the rebound.

switch their roles around and yeah.

Rodman had no defensive responsibilities? Probably more likely he would have been a way from the rim playing D

[L.Kizzle]

That's why it's irrelevant whether they could or not. Shaq could've been one of the greatest heavyweight boxer if he focused on it. He didn't and wasn't interested in doing that so it's not relevant in ranking heavyweight boxer.

Boxing had nothing to do with basketball. Could Dennis Rodman avg 25 points if he put his mind to it?
Wilt Chamberlain told HALL OF FAMER Walt Bellamy he wasn't gonna score in the first half a preceded to block every shot attempt of his. He outscored him 51-14. All 14 of Walts points came in the 2nd half only after Wilt let up saying "you can play now." Wilt ONLY had 16 rebounds that night because he focused on shutting Walt Bellamy down.

[Kblaze8855]

That I’ve seen personally it’s a tossup between Moses and Rodman with Barkley a valid alternate answer. I just can’t evaluate anyone modern vs the likes of those guys. Especially by numbers. I saw elsewhere people talking about Andre Drummond’s rebounding percentage went on the court how old earth do you compare playing modern teams as either the only or one of two traditional bigs on the court in a game vs playing teams that had Ewing/Oakley/ Mason, Shaq/Horace, Moses/Barkley, Barkley/Hakeem, Rodman/Drob, Laimbeer/Rodman, Mourning/LJ(or pj), Hakeem and Thorpe and all the rest on the floor at the same time?

Teams had 2 real bigs and often a 3 who couldn’t shoot and played around the foul line and in on top of it.

Shouldnt a guy like Drummond get a higher percentage of rebounds when he’s on the floor vs teams who don’t even like the idea of a traditional big?

The percentages tell too little of the story to me.

Barkley and Rodman were beating frontcourts full of bigs paid to rebound all night.

I somehow doubt that Drummond is gonna go get 25% of all rebounds available if he’s playing the 76ers that had both Moses and Barkley at the same time. Bigs aren’t paid to rebound anymore. Not primarily. You could have a career just rebounding and playing man to man post defense at one time.

I suspect that time is past. We may have seen our last Chris Dudley play 15+ years.

[Im Still Ballin]

That I’ve seen personally it’s a tossup between Moses and Rodman with Barkley a valid alternate answer. I just can’t evaluate anyone modern vs the likes of those guys. Especially by numbers. I saw elsewhere people talking about Andre Drummond’s rebounding percentage went on the court how old earth do you compare playing modern teams as either the only or one of two traditional bigs on the court in a game vs playing teams that had Ewing/Oakley/ Mason, Shaq/Horace, Moses/Barkley, Barkley/Hakeem, Rodman/Drob, Laimbeer/Rodman, Mourning/LJ(or pj), Hakeem and Thorpe and all the rest on the floor at the same time?

Teams had 2 real bigs and often a 3 who couldn’t shoot and played around the foul line and in on top of it.

Shouldnt a guy like Drummond get a higher percentage of rebounds when he’s on the floor vs teams who don’t even like the idea of a traditional big?

The percentages tell too little of the story to me.

Barkley and Rodman were beating frontcourts full of bigs paid to rebound all night.

I somehow doubt that Drummond is gonna go get 25% of all rebounds available if he’s playing the 76ers that had both Moses and Barkley at the same time. Bigs aren’t paid to rebound anymore. Not primarily. You could have a career just rebounding and playing man to man post defense at one time.

I suspect that time is past. We may have seen our last Chris Dudley play 15+ years.

Danny Fortson was a beast.

[Xiao Yao You]

That I’ve seen personally it’s a tossup between Moses and Rodman with Barkley a valid alternate answer. I just can’t evaluate anyone modern vs the likes of those guys. Especially by numbers. I saw elsewhere people talking about Andre Drummond’s rebounding percentage went on the court how old earth do you compare playing modern teams as either the only or one of two traditional bigs on the court in a game vs playing teams that had Ewing/Oakley/ Mason, Shaq/Horace, Moses/Barkley, Barkley/Hakeem, Rodman/Drob, Laimbeer/Rodman, Mourning/LJ(or pj), Hakeem and Thorpe and all the rest on the floor at the same time?

Teams had 2 real bigs and often a 3 who couldn’t shoot and played around the foul line and in on top of it.

Shouldnt a guy like Drummond get a higher percentage of rebounds when he’s on the floor vs teams who don’t even like the idea of a traditional big?

The percentages tell too little of the story to me.

Barkley and Rodman were beating frontcourts full of bigs paid to rebound all night.

I somehow doubt that Drummond is gonna go get 25% of all rebounds available if he’s playing the 76ers that had both Moses and Barkley at the same time. Bigs aren’t paid to rebound anymore. Not primarily. You could have a career just rebounding and playing man to man post defense at one time.

I suspect that time is past. We may have seen our last Chris Dudley play 15+ years.

a lot less long rebounds off missed 3's when there were lots of bigs. Hard to compare anyone against other eras.

[iamgine]

Boxing had nothing to do with basketball. Could Dennis Rodman avg 25 points if he put his mind to it?
Wilt Chamberlain told HALL OF FAMER Walt Bellamy he wasn't gonna score in the first half a preceded to block every shot attempt of his. He outscored him 51-14. All 14 of Walts points came in the 2nd half only after Wilt let up saying "you can play now." Wilt ONLY had 16 rebounds that night because he focused on shutting Walt Bellamy down.

You might be missing the point.

[WhiteKyrie]

Gobert 4th in total rebound % and 2nd in defensive rebound % all time
Ugh.

I never thought I would see the worst stan of all time … wasn’t for the GOAT, Jesus in Nikes, MJ.

Not for the second best ever, the King, LeBron.

Not for IMO the third best ever, but number 8 all time to most and the second best SG ever, the most skillful SG ever in the Black Mamba.

Not even Shaq, Duncan, Hakeem, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Wilt or Russell …

But Rudy Toody Fresh and ****ing Fruity Gobert.

:facepalm

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Your basketball opinions that you speak on with such conviction are normally always wrong, and are hideously stupid.

Where does your fascination with Rudy Gobert come from? You’re a jazz stand, he’s not even the third best player ever in your franchise. He’s not even fourth. 1) Malone 2) Stockton 3) Mitchell 4) Pistol Pete.

What did he did to garner such fandom from you? Did he deliver the Utah Jazz a ring? No, they didn’t even want him and they traded him. He hasn’t done shit on Minnesota, are you no longer a Jazz fan and just a Rudy Gobert fan?

This has to be some elaborate troll job.

[k0kakw0rld]

Dennis Rodman

[Xiao Yao You]

Ugh.

I never thought I would see the worst stan of all time … wasn’t for the GOAT, Jesus in Nikes, MJ.

Not for the second best ever, the King, LeBron.

Not for IMO the third best ever, but number 8 all time to most and the second best SG ever, the most skillful SG ever in the Black Mamba.

Not even Shaq, Duncan, Hakeem, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Wilt or Russell …

But Rudy Toody Fresh and ****ing Fruity Gobert.

:facepalm

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Your basketball opinions that you speak on with such conviction are normally always wrong, and are hideously stupid.

Where does your fascination with Rudy Gobert come from? You’re a jazz stand, he’s not even the third best player ever in your franchise. He’s not even fourth. 1) Malone 2) Stockton 3) Mitchell 4) Pistol Pete.

What did he did to garner such fandom from you? Did he deliver the Utah Jazz a ring? No, they didn’t even want him and they traded him. He hasn’t done shit on Minnesota, are you no longer a Jazz fan and just a Rudy Gobert fan?

This has to be some elaborate troll job.

Gobert isn't an elite rebounder? Stockton, Malone and Gobert. No one else has been close to their impact in their history. Only player in Jazz history that made a shitty team good. Stockton and Malone joined a playoff team. Mitchell played no D and didn't pass. He's not even top 10. You forgot Dantley and Deron and many others I'd take over the one dimensional Mitchell.

[L.Kizzle]

You might be missing the point.
I'm not.

[ILLsmak]

Gobert isn't an elite rebounder? Stockton, Malone and Gobert. No one else has been close to their impact in their history. Only player in Jazz history that made a shitty team good. Stockton and Malone joined a playoff team. Mitchell played no D and didn't pass. He's not even top 10. You forgot Dantley and Deron and many others I'd take over the one dimensional Mitchell.

AK!

-Smak

[Xiao Yao You]

AK!

-Smak

AK is the closest thing they had to Gobert. Too bad they moved him from the 4 and he didn't put in the work to get better like Gobert did

[dankok8]

You definitely can't take raw rebounding numbers at face value because the 60's had a super high pace and larger volume of missed shots. Wilt and Russell also played more minutes per game than Rodman.

Rodman easily wins in TRB% which is a more informative number.

However...

They both do have a strong case over Rodman. In the span from 1992-1998 when he was the league's top rebounder, Dennis's unbelievable rebound rate in the regular season of 26.0 %TRB went down to 21.9 %TRB in the playoffs. Wilt in his last three playoffs runs averaged 21.1 %TRB.

This RealGM thread has Wilt and Russell's rebounding rates in the 60's.

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=344&t=955514

Wilt had some incredible playoff rates including a few that 24+ %TRB. Russell also had a bunch of 22+ %TRB though he is generally behind Wilt.

Even if Wilt's rate wasn't much higher in his earlier prime years (which I doubt based on above estimates) I'd still take him over Rodman because he sustained a similar rate while playing much higher minutes. Dennis played 32.4 mpg in the playoffs in his run while Wilt played 47.2 mpg in this playoff career. And we know Wilt was an elite rebounder for his entire career which is longer than Rodman's 7-year binge.

Moses is another guy often in this GOAT rebounder conversation but his rates are lower than Wilt's and Russell's. He may well be the GOAT offensive rebounder but he's not the GOAT rebounder overall. That much is clear.

Thus my rebounding GOAT list:

1. Wilt
2. Russell
3. Rodman
4. Moses

[Jasper]

I appreciate the argument for Rodman, but consider this about Wilt:

NBA record – Career total rebounds (23,924)
NBA record – Career rebounds per game (22.9)
NBA record – Most seasons leading the league in rebounds (11)
NBA record – Most seasons with 1,000 or more rebounds (13)
NBA record – Rebounds per game in a season (27.2)

Chamberlain also holds the next two highest averages with 27.0 in 1959–60 and 25.7 in 1961–62)
Chamberlain and Bill Russell occupy the top 18 spots on this list (9 each).

NBA record – Total Rebounds in a season (2,149 in 1960–1961)

Chamberlain also holds the next six highest totals.

NBA record – Rebounds in a game (55, Philadelphia Warriors vs. Boston Celtics, November 24, 1960)

Besides Bill Russell (11 times, including 3 playoff games, max of 51) only Nate Thurmond (42) and Jerry Lucas (40) have ever gotten at least 40.

NBA record – Most rebounds per game by a rookie in a season (27.0)
NBA record – Most rebounds by a rookie in a season (1,941)
NBA record – Most rebounds by a rookie in a game (45 on February 6, 1960)

Chamberlain, as a rookie, also grabbed 43 rebounds in one game, 42 in two others, and 40 in another.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a single postseason (444 during the 1969 Playoffs).

Chamberlain also has the second-most, with 437 in 1967 Playoffs.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a playoff game (41 against the Boston Celtics, on April 5, 1967).

Game 3 victory in the Eastern Division finals.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a half (26 against the San Francisco Warriors on April 16, 1967)

Also an NBA Finals record.

NBA playoff record – Highest rebounding average in a playoff series (32.0 in a 5-game series against the Boston Celtics in 1967).
NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a 5-game playoff series (160 against the Boston Celtics in 1967).
NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a 6-game playoff series (171 against the San Francisco Warriors in 1967).

Also an NBA Finals record for a 6-game series.

NBA playoff record – Most rebounds in a 7-game playoff series (220 against the Boston Celtics in 1965).
NBA playoff record – Most rebounds by a rookie in a game (35 against the Boston Celtics on March 22, 1960)

Scored a then-playoff record 53 points (still a rookie record) in the same game (a game 5 victory).

NBA Finals record – Highest rebounds per game average, career (24.6)
NBA All-Star Game record – Most career rebounds in the NBA All-Star game (197).
NBA All-Star Game record – Most rebounds in a half (16 in 1960). Record shared with Bob Pettit,


Nobody else can come close to that. He stands alone.

I DIDN'T WANT TO PULL UP THE STATS.. BUT TO THINK 43 REBOUNDS IN ONE GAME ??
i KNEW HE OWNED THE RECORD FOR MOST IN A GAME , BUT TELL ME RODMAN COULD EVER HAVE DONE THIS OR COULD OF SHOULD OF DONE THIS AGAINST WILT ??:oldlol:
WILT WAS THE KING (.)

[L.Kizzle]

Another interesting tidbit, Dennis Rodman played alongside another historically great rebounder (no, not David Robinson) Bill Laimbeer. How good was Bill, well he actually led the league on rebounding the season before Rodman was drafted (and also led in total rebounds twice, the same number and Rodman.)

Laimbeer and Rodman rebounding numbers throu the years they played together.

87
Bill 12
Rodman 4

88 Bill 10
Rodman 9

89
Bill 10
Rodman 9

90 Bill 10
Rodman 10

91 Bill 9
Rodman 13

92 Bill 6
Rodman 19

92 Bill 5
Rodman 18

[ILLsmak]

Another interesting tidbit, Dennis Rodman played alongside another historically great rebounder (no, not David Robinson) Bill Laimbeer. How good was Bill, well he actually led the league on rebounding the season before Rodman was drafted (and also led in total rebounds twice, the same number and Rodman.)

Laimbeer and Rodman rebounding numbers throu the years they played together.

87
Bill 12
Rodman 4

88 Bill 10
Rodman 9

89
Bill 10
Rodman 9

90 Bill 10
Rodman 10

91 Bill 9
Rodman 13

92 Bill 6
Rodman 19

92 Bill 5
Rodman 18

I got tidbits, too. Rebounding is a team effort. If both people are in proper position, playing similar minutes, and putting bodies on the people they are supposed to, the rebound is up for grabs. Should really be pulling in total team rebounds vs the other team, esp in Russell vs Wilt head to head.

Doesn't it strike you as odd that Russell AND Wilt, playing during basically the same time, were both atg rebounders? I mean, what is the chance of that? That the two best rebounders ever would be in the same era? It has to speak somewhat to 'an era factor,' or an extreme amount of luck. I would bet on something to do w/ the era.

Also, wasn't Rodman a SF at times early on?

-Smak

[Xiao Yao You]

I got tidbits, too. Rebounding is a team effort. If both people are in proper position, playing similar minutes, and putting bodies on the people they are supposed to, the rebound is up for grabs. Should really be pulling in total team rebounds vs the other team, esp in Russell vs Wilt head to head.

Doesn't it strike you as odd that Russell AND Wilt, playing during basically the same time, were both atg rebounders? I mean, what is the chance of that? That the two best rebounders ever would be in the same era? It has to speak somewhat to 'an era factor,' or an extreme amount of luck. I would bet on something to do w/ the era.

Also, wasn't Rodman a SF at times early on?

-Smak

I believe Rodman was more of a 3 initially. Energy guy off the bench

[L.Kizzle]

Why does Rodman get a pass for having a bunch of mediocre rebounding seasons?

[Pointguard]

1. Wilt
2. Russell
3. Dwight Howard (Five titles with overlap of KG, Wallace, Duncan)
4 Rodman

[Im Still Ballin]

Dwight is definitely one of the best rebounders of the 21st century. He had a great combination of physical gifts and didn't hunt for rebounds.

[John8204]

1. Wilt
2. Russell
3. Rodman
4. Moses

I would say it was between Rodman and Moses...Moses didn't even aim he just figured if he shot it up enough times he'll score at some point. Rodman on the other hand was more skilled and would study where the ball would end up based on each team. My rule of thumb is if all four men went for the rebound...who would get it. To me that's Malone.

[ILLsmak]

Why does Rodman get a pass for having a bunch of mediocre rebounding seasons?


When? Mediocre in what way?

LOOK AT HIM GET HIS HAND ON THESE BALLS.

https://youtu.be/gG_HNvEd39E?si=kGdBGBibBppF_gOu&t=182

that play is a good example of why Rodman is prol the best Rebounder/Ball getter of all time. But yea in the 60s, I dunno what to say... but in terms of modern NBA, it's just different. Wilt is no joke, though, but Rodman's reaction and hustle, being able to get 'floor rebounds' so well makes him the best, to me.

Also peep Cassell trying to body w/ Rodman and what Rodman is able to do to him LEGALLY. Dude is just a master of space. Haha, the fact that he ended up on top of him is hilarious. https://youtu.be/gG_HNvEd39E?si=r1pOttsCyc6q2vP5&t=325

Edit: also in that building around Dray thread I said Rodman could prol push the break just as well as Dray and pass, well that vid is what I was talking about. He's not AS good but he's better in other areas, he's good enough for sure, and ain't no way you can build a team w/ that as your best player.

-Smak

[dankok8]

I would say it was between Rodman and Moses...Moses didn't even aim he just figured if he shot it up enough times he'll score at some point. Rodman on the other hand was more skilled and would study where the ball would end up based on each team. My rule of thumb is if all four men went for the rebound...who would get it. To me that's Malone.

Did you even read my reasoning? Rodman might win the regular season but he's at best 3rd all-time as a playoff rebounder.



You definitely can't take raw rebounding numbers at face value because the 60's had a super high pace and larger volume of missed shots. Wilt and Russell also played more minutes per game than Rodman.

Rodman easily wins in TRB% which is a more informative number.

However...

They both do have a strong case over Rodman. In the span from 1992-1998 when he was the league's top rebounder, Dennis's unbelievable rebound rate in the regular season of 26.0 %TRB went down to 21.9 %TRB in the playoffs. Wilt in his last three playoffs runs averaged 21.1 %TRB.

This RealGM thread has Wilt and Russell's rebounding rates in the 60's.

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/vie...f=344&t=955514

Wilt had some incredible playoff rates including a few that 24+ %TRB. Russell also had a bunch of 22+ %TRB though he is generally behind Wilt.

Even if Wilt's rate wasn't much higher in his earlier prime years (which I doubt based on above estimates) I'd still take him over Rodman because he sustained a similar rate while playing much higher minutes. Dennis played 32.4 mpg in the playoffs in his run while Wilt played 47.2 mpg in this playoff career. And we know Wilt was an elite rebounder for his entire career which is longer than Rodman's 7-year binge.

Moses is another guy often in this GOAT rebounder conversation but his rates are lower than Wilt's and Russell's. He may well be the GOAT offensive rebounder but he's not the GOAT rebounder overall. That much is clear.

[L.Kizzle]

When? Mediocre in what way?

LOOK AT HIM GET HIS HAND ON THESE BALLS.

https://youtu.be/gG_HNvEd39E?si=kGdBGBibBppF_gOu&t=182

that play is a good example of why Rodman is prol the best Rebounder/Ball getter of all time. But yea in the 60s, I dunno what to say... but in terms of modern NBA, it's just different. Wilt is no joke, though, but Rodman's reaction and hustle, being able to get 'floor rebounds' so well makes him the best, to me.

Also peep Cassell trying to body w/ Rodman and what Rodman is able to do to him LEGALLY. Dude is just a master of space. Haha, the fact that he ended up on top of him is hilarious. https://youtu.be/gG_HNvEd39E?si=r1pOttsCyc6q2vP5&t=325

Edit: also in that building around Dray thread I said Rodman could prol push the break just as well as Dray and pass, well that vid is what I was talking about. He's not AS good but he's better in other areas, he's good enough for sure, and ain't no way you can build a team w/ that as your best player.

-Smak
By mediocre I meant besides the years he was winning rebounding titles he has a bunch of 9 and 10 rebounding seasons.

Also, the shortened 3-point line just looks do strange. Like an elementary court lol.

[Xiao Yao You]

By mediocre I meant besides the years he was winning rebounding titles he has a bunch of 9 and 10 rebounding seasons.

Also, the shortened 3-point line just looks do strange. Like an elementary court lol.

hardly mediocre especially since he was coming off the bench initially and playing the wing. I didn't think of him as a great rebounder when he came in the league. He was an energy guy

[L.Kizzle]

hardly mediocre especially since he was coming off the bench initially and playing the wing. I didn't think of him as a great rebounder when he came in the league. He was an energy guy
He's a great rebounder, I never said he wasn't. He's just not the best.

[Round Mound]

Bill Russell

[AussieSteve]

Of everyone who's played at least 80 playoff games in the 3pt era, Charles Barkley leads all players in BOTH offensive and defensive rebounds per game in the playoffs.

[tpols]

Rodman for me. Ridiculous motor.

[RogueBorg]

Rodman, quite easily.

Wilt & Russell were getting their rebounds in an era where there were more missed shots and teams played at a crazy fast pace, this inflated their numbers. Rodman was averaging godly rebounding numbers in the 90's, which were slower pace compared to the 60's and 80's.

This is spot on.

In 1992, playing 40.3 mpg, not 49 like Wilt, Rodman grabbed 42% of all the available rebounds Detroit had (Rodman had 1,530 rebounds out of the available 3,631 rebounds Detroit had as a team).

In 1961, Chamberlain averaged 27.2 rpg which was good for "only" 36.1% of the Warriors total rebounds.

So just as 1987_Lakers stated, if you adjust for pace, Dennis Rodman is the greatest rebounder ever by a wide margin.

[RogueBorg]

And I'm happy to say my man Moses is the best offensive rebounder ever averaging 5.1 orpg and the most ever for one season at 7.2.

Moses also has the top two most offensive rebounds in a game with 21 and 19.

[L.Kizzle]

This is spot on.

In 1992, playing 40.3 mpg, not 49 like Wilt, Rodman grabbed 42% of all the available rebounds Detroit had (Rodman had 1,530 rebounds out of the available 3,631 rebounds Detroit had as a team).

In 1961, Chamberlain averaged 27.2 rpg which was good for "only" 36.1% of the Warriors total rebounds.

So just as 1987_Lakers stated, if you adjust for pace, Dennis Rodman is the greatest rebounder ever by a wide margin.

Rodman wasn't consistent. I mean yes, 7 reb titles in a row but he had a lot of stinkers too.

[Xiao Yao You]

And I'm happy to say my man Moses is the best offensive rebounder ever averaging 5.1 orpg and the most ever for one season at 7.2.

Moses also has the top two most offensive rebounds in a game with 21 and 19.

and most of those were probably off his own misses

[ShawkFactory]

And I'm happy to say my man Moses is the best offensive rebounder ever averaging 5.1 orpg and the most ever for one season at 7.2.

Moses also has the top two most offensive rebounds in a game with 21 and 19.

Moses would probably be my choice. The ridiculous rebounding on top of the offensive game is too much. I'm sure a lot his points were put backs and fouls from the rebounds but I put a little more weight into what he did than Rodman being solely an energy guy.

[AussieSteve]

Just to reiterate, Charles Barkley leads all players in BOTH offensive rebounds AND defensive rebounds per game in the playoffs in the 3pt era*


*players with >80 PO games.

[ShawkFactory]

Just to reiterate, Charles Barkley leads all players in BOTH offensive rebounds AND defensive rebounds per game in the playoffs in the 3pt era*


*players with >80 PO games.

Certainly impressive. And any rebounding conversation without him mentioned is void.

But he also always played a ton of minutes on very fast-paced teams. You have to consider that aspect.

[L.Kizzle]

Certainly impressive. And any rebounding conversation without him mentioned is void.

But he also always played a ton of minutes on very fast-paced teams. You have to consider that aspect.
That's fine, but why can't we factor in Rodman being ONLY a rebounder and guys like Barkley, Moses, Wilt having to score on the other end and be the leader, etc.

[dankok8]

This is spot on.

In 1992, playing 40.3 mpg, not 49 like Wilt, Rodman grabbed 42% of all the available rebounds Detroit had (Rodman had 1,530 rebounds out of the available 3,631 rebounds Detroit had as a team).

In 1961, Chamberlain averaged 27.2 rpg which was good for "only" 36.1% of the Warriors total rebounds.

So just as 1987_Lakers stated, if you adjust for pace, Dennis Rodman is the greatest rebounder ever by a wide margin.

Regular season Rodman is the GOAT but what about the playoffs? Wilt has same or better rates with much higher minutes played.

[John8204]

Just to reiterate, Charles Barkley leads all players in BOTH offensive rebounds AND defensive rebounds per game in the playoffs in the 3pt era*


*players with >80 PO games.

Charles is great but he's clearly five in the Moses, Wilt, Russell, Rodman debate

[Wally450]

First names that come to mind are Wilt, Rodman & Chuck.