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List of NBA career rebounding leaders

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This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season rebounds recorded.
A progressive list of rebound leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.

Rebounding leaders

This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season rebounds recorded.

Statistics accurate as of December 19, 2024.
Wilt Chamberlain has the most rebounds in NBA history and the most rebounds in a single season.
Bill Russell held the career rebounding record from 1963 to 1972.
George Mikan held the record from 1952 to 1955.
Dolph Schayes held the record from the league's inaugural season to 1952 and again from 1955 to 1963.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration
Rank Player Pos Team(s) played for (years) Total rebounds Games played Rebounds per game
average
1 Wilt Chamberlain* C Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959–1965)
Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
Los Angeles Lakers (1968–1973) 		23,924 1,045 22.9
2 Bill Russell* C Boston Celtics (1956–1969) 21,620 963 22.5
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) 		17,440 1,560 11.2
4 Elvin Hayes* PF/C San Diego/Houston Rockets (1968–1972, 1981–1984)
Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1972–1981) 		16,279 1,303 12.5
5 Moses Malone* C Buffalo Braves (1976)
Houston Rockets (1976–1982)
Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994)
Washington Bullets (1986–1988)
Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991)
Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995) 		16,212 1,329 12.2
6 Tim Duncan* PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016) 15,091 1,392 10.8
7 Karl Malone* PF Utah Jazz (1985–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) 		14,968 1,476 10.1
8 Robert Parish* C Golden State Warriors (1976–1980)
Boston Celtics (1980–1994)
Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996)
Chicago Bulls (1996–1997) 		14,715 1,611 9.1
9 Kevin Garnett* PF Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)
Boston Celtics (2007–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015) 		14,662 1,462 10.0
10 Dwight Howard C Orlando Magic (2004–2012)
Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2013, 2019–2020, 2021–2022)
Houston Rockets (2013–2016)
Atlanta Hawks (2016–2017)
Charlotte Hornets (2017–2018)
Washington Wizards (2018–2019)
Philadelphia 76ers (2020–2021) 		14,627 1,242 11.8
11 Nate Thurmond* C San Francisco/Golden State Warriors (1963–1974)
Chicago Bulls (1974–1976)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1976–1977) 		14,464 964 15.0
12 Walt Bellamy* C Chicago Packers/Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets (1961–1965)
New York Knicks (1965–1968)
Detroit Pistons (1968–1970)
Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)
New Orleans Jazz (1974) 		14,241 1,043 13.7
13 Wes Unseld* C Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1968–1981) 13,769 984 14.0
14 Hakeem Olajuwon* C Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002) 		13,748 1,238 11.1
15 Shaquille O'Neal* C Orlando Magic (1992–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)
Miami Heat (2004–2008)
Phoenix Suns (2008–2009)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010)
Boston Celtics (2010–2011) 		13,099 1,207 10.9
16 Buck Williams PF New Jersey Nets (1981–1989)
Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1996)
New York Knicks (1996–1998) 		13,017 1,307 10.0
17 Jerry Lucas* PF Cincinnati Royals (1963–1969)
San Francisco Warriors (1969–1971)
New York Knicks (1971–1974) 		12,942 829 15.6
18 Bob Pettit* PF Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954–1965) 12,849 792 16.2
19 Charles Barkley* PF Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000) 		12,546 1,073 11.7
20 Dikembe Mutombo* C Denver Nuggets (1991–1996)
Atlanta Hawks (1996–2001)
Philadelphia 76ers (2001–2002)
New Jersey Nets (2002–2003)
New York Knicks (2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (2004–2009) 		12,359 1,196 10.3
21 Paul Silas PF St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1964–1969)
Phoenix Suns (1969–1972)
Boston Celtics (1972–1976)
Denver Nuggets (1976–1977)
Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1980) 		12,357 1,254 9.9
22 Charles Oakley PF Chicago Bulls (1985–1988, 2001–2002)
New York Knicks (1988–1998)
Toronto Raptors (1998–2001)
Washington Wizards (2002–2003)
Houston Rockets (2004) 		12,205 1,282 9.5
23 Dennis Rodman* PF/SF Detroit Pistons (1986–1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1993–1995)
Chicago Bulls (1995–1998)
Los Angeles Lakers (1999)
Dallas Mavericks (2000) 		11,954 911 13.1
24 Kevin Willis PF/C Atlanta Hawks (1984–1994, 2004–2005)
Miami Heat (1994–1996)
Golden State Warriors (1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–1998, 2001–2002)
Toronto Raptors (1999–2001)
Denver Nuggets (2001)
San Antonio Spurs (2002–2004)
Dallas Mavericks (2007) 		11,901 1,424 8.4
25 Patrick Ewing* C New York Knicks (1985–2000)
Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)
Orlando Magic (2001–2002) 		11,607 1,183 9.8
26 Dirk Nowitzki* PF Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019) 11,489 1,522 7.5
27 Elgin Baylor* SF Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958–1971) 11,463 846 13.5
28 LeBron James^ SF Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)
Miami Heat (2010–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present) 		11,383 1,517 7.5
29 Pau Gasol* PF/C Memphis Grizzlies (2001–2008)
Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2014)
Chicago Bulls (2014–2016)
San Antonio Spurs (2016–2019)
Milwaukee Bucks (2019) 		11,305 1,226 9.2
30 Dolph Schayes* PF Syracuse Nationals (1949–1950)
Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1950–1964) 		11,256 932 12.1
31 Bill Bridges PF St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1963–1971)
Philadelphia 76ers (1971–1972)
Los Angeles Lakers (1972–1974)
Golden State Warriors (1975) 		11,054 926 11.9
32 Andre Drummond^ C Detroit Pistons (2012–2020)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021)
Philadelphia 76ers (2021–2022, 2024–present)
Brooklyn Nets (2022)
Chicago Bulls (2022–2024) 		10,851 885 12.3
33 Jack Sikma* C Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1986)
Milwaukee Bucks (1986–1991) 		10,816 1,107 9.8
34 DeAndre Jordan^ C Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2018)
Dallas Mavericks (2018–2019)
New York Knicks (2019)
Brooklyn Nets (2019–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022)
Denver Nuggets (2022–present) 		10,552 1,068 9.9
35 David Robinson* C San Antonio Spurs (1989–2003) 10,497 987 10.6
36 Ben Wallace* C/PF Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996–1999)
Orlando Magic (1999–2000)
Detroit Pistons (2000–2006, 2009–2012)
Chicago Bulls (2006–2008)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2008–2009) 		10,482 1,088 9.6
37 Tyson Chandler C Chicago Bulls (2001–2006)
New Orleans Hornets (2006–2009)
Charlotte Bobcats (2009–2010)
Dallas Mavericks (2010–2011, 2014–2015)
New York Knicks (2011–2014)
Phoenix Suns (2015–2018)
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020) 		10,467 1,160 9.0
38 Dave Cowens* C Boston Celtics (1970–1980)
Milwaukee Bucks (1982–1983) 		10,444 766 13.6
39 Bill Laimbeer C Cleveland Cavaliers (1980–1982)
Detroit Pistons (1982–1993) 		10,400 1,068 9.7
40 Otis Thorpe PF Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988, 1998)
Houston Rockets (1988–1995)
Portland Trail Blazers (1995)
Detroit Pistons (1995–1997)
Vancouver Grizzlies (1997–1998)
Washington Wizards (1998–1999)
Miami Heat (1999–2000)
Charlotte Hornets (2000–2001) 		10,370 1,257 8.2
41 Zach Randolph PF Portland Trail Blazers (2001–2007)
New York Knicks (2007–2008)
Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2009)
Memphis Grizzlies (2009–2017)
Sacramento Kings (2017–2019) 		10,208 1,116 9.1
42 Shawn Marion SF/PF Phoenix Suns (1999–2008)
Miami Heat (2008–2009)
Toronto Raptors (2009)
Dallas Mavericks (2009–2014)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2015) 		10,101 1,163 8.7
43 Johnny Kerr C Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1954–1965)
Baltimore Bullets (1965–1966) 		10,092 905 11.2
44 Bob Lanier* C Detroit Pistons (1970–1980)
Milwaukee Bucks (1980–1984) 		9,698 959 10.1
Nikola Vučević^ C Philadelphia 76ers (2011–2012)
Orlando Magic (2012–2021)
Chicago Bulls (2021–present) 		926 10.5
45 Sam Lacey C Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City(-Omaha) Kings (1970–1981)
New Jersey Nets (1981–1982)
Cleveland Cavaliers (1982–1983) 		9,687 1,002 9.7
47 Dave DeBusschere* PF/SF Detroit Pistons (1962–1968)
New York Knicks (1968–1974) 		9,618 875 11.0
48 Marcus Camby C Toronto Raptors (1996–1998)
New York Knicks (1998–2002, 2012–2013)
Denver Nuggets (2002–2008)
Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2010)
Portland Trail Blazers (2010–2012)
Houston Rockets (2012) 		9,513 973 9.8
49 A.C. Green PF Los Angeles Lakers (1985–1993, 1999–2000)
Phoenix Suns (1993–1996)
Dallas Mavericks (1996–1999)
Miami Heat (2000–2001) 		9,473 1,278 7.4
50 Kevin Love^ PF Minnesota Timberwolves (2008–2014)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2023)
Miami Heat (2023–present) 		9,469 943 10.0

Progressive list of rebounding leaders

This is a progressive list of rebounding leaders showing how the record increased through the years.

Statistics accurate as of December 19, 2024.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration
Team abbreviations Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATL Atlanta Hawks FTW Fort Wayne Pistons NOP New Orleans Pelicans SDR San Diego Rockets
BKN Brooklyn Nets HOU Houston Rockets NYK New York Knicks SFW San Francisco Warriors
BOS Boston Celtics IND Indiana Pacers ORL Orlando Magic STL St. Louis Hawks
BUF Buffalo Braves LAC Los Angeles Clippers PHI Philadelphia 76ers SYR Syracuse Nationals
CAP Capital Bullets LAL Los Angeles Lakers PHW Philadelphia Warriors SFW San Francisco Warriors
CHO Charlotte Hornets MIL Milwaukee Bucks PHX Phoenix Suns UTA Utah Jazz
CHI Chicago Bulls MIN Minnesota Timberwolves ROC Rochester Royals SYR Syracuse Nationals
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers MLH Milwaukee Hawks SAC Sacramento Kings WAS Washington Wizards
DEN Denver Nuggets MNL Minneapolis Lakers SAS San Antonio Spurs WSB Washington Bullets
DET Detroit Pistons NOJ New Orleans Jazz SDC San Diego Clippers
Progressive leaders and records for total rebounds
Season Year-by-year leader REB Active leader REB Career record REB Single-season record REB Season
1950–51 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 1,080 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 1,080 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 1,080 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 1,080 1950–51
1951–52 Mel Hutchins000MLH
Larry Foust000FTW		 880 1,853 1,853 1951–52
1952–53 George Mikan*000MNL 1,007 George Mikan*000MNL 2,831 George Mikan*000MNL 2,831 1952–53
1953–54 Harry Gallatin*000NYK 1,098 3,859 3,859 Harry Gallatin*000NYK 1,098 1953–54
1954–55 Neil Johnston*000PHW 1,085 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 4,530 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 4,530 1954–55
1955–56 Bob Pettit*000STL 1,164 5,421 5,421 Bob Pettit*000STL 1,164 1955–56
1956–57 Maurice Stokes*000ROC 1,256 6,429 6,429 Maurice Stokes*000ROC 1,256 1956–57
1957–58 Bill Russell*000BOS 1,564 7,451 7,451 Bill Russell*000BOS 1,564 1957–58
1958–59 1,612 8,413 8,413 1,612 1958–59
1959–60 Wilt Chamberlain*
000PHW 1959–62
000SFW 1962–63		 1,941 9,372 9,372 Wilt Chamberlain*000PHW 1,941 1959–60
1960–61 2,149 10,332 10,332 2,149 1960–61
1961–62 2,052 10,771 10,771 1961–62
1962–63 1,946 Bill Russell*000BOS 11,398 Bill Russell*000BOS 11,398 1962–63
1963–64 Bill Russell*000BOS 1,930 13,328 13,328 1963–64
1964–65 1,878 15,206 15,206 1964–65
1965–66 Wilt Chamberlain*
000PHI 1965–68
000LAL 1968–69		 1,943 16,985 16,985 1965–66
1966–67 1,957 18,685 18,685 1966–67
1967–68 1,952 20,136 20,136 1967–68
1968–69 1,712 21,620 21,620 1968–69
1969–70 Elvin Hayes*000SDR 1,386 Wilt Chamberlain*000LAL 19,333 1969–70
1970–71 Wilt Chamberlain*000LAL 1,493 20,826 1970–71
1971–72 1,572 22,398 Wilt Chamberlain*000LAL 22,398 1971–72
1972–73 1,526 23,924 23,924 1972–73
1973–74 Elvin Hayes*000CAP 1,463 Walt Bellamy*
000ATL 1973–74
000NOJ 1974–75		 14,236 1973–74
1974–75 Bob McAdoo*000BUF 1,155 14,241 1974–75
1975–76 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000LAL 1,383 Nate Thurmond*
000CHI 1975
000CLE 1975–77		 14,090 1975–77
1976–77 1,090 14,464 1976–77
1977–78 Truck Robinson000NOJ 1,288 Elvin Hayes*
000WSB 1977–81
000HOU 1981–84		 11,977 1977–78
1978–79 Moses Malone*000HOU 1,444 12,971 1978–79
1979–80 Swen Nater000SDC 1,216 13,867 1979–80
1980–81 Moses Malone*
000HOU 1980–82
000PHI 1982–83		 1,180 14,656 1980–81
1981–82 1,188 15,403 1981–82
1982–83 1,194 16,019 1982–83
1983–84 Bill Laimbeer000DET 1,003 16,279 1983–84
1984–85 Moses Malone*000PHI 1,031 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000LAL 15,627 1984–85
1985–86 Bill Laimbeer000DET 1,075 16,105 1985–86
1986–87 Charles Oakley000CHI 1,074 16,628 1986–87
1987–88 1,066 17,106 1987–88
1988–89 Hakeem Olajuwon*000HOU 1,105 17,440 1988–89
1989–90 1,149 Moses Malone*000
000ATL 1989–91
000MIL 1991–93
000PHI 1993–94
000SAS 1994–95		 14,483 1989–90
1990–91 David Robinson*000SAS 1,063 15,150 1990–91
1991–92 Dennis Rodman*
000DET 1991–93
000SAS 1993–94		 1,530 15,894 1991–92
1992–93 1,132 15,940 1992–93
1993–94 1,367 16,166 1993–94
1994–95 Dikembe Mutombo*000DEN 1,029 16,212 1994–95
1995–96 David Robinson*000SAS 1,000 Robert Parish*
000CHO 1995–96
000CHI 1996–97		 14,626 1995–96
1996–97 Dikembe Mutombo*000ATL 929 14,715 1996–97
1997–98 Dennis Rodman*000CHI 1,201 Buck Williams000NYK 13,017 1997–98
1998–99 Dikembe Mutombo*000ATL 610 Hakeem Olajuwon*000HOU 12,677 1998–99
1999–00 1,157 12,951 1999–00
2000–01 Ben Wallace*000DET 1,052 13,382 2000–01
2001–02 Tim Duncan*000SAS 1,042 Karl Malone*
000UTA 2001–03
000LAL 2003–04		 13,973 2001–02
2002–03 Ben Wallace*000DET 1,126 14,601 2002–03
2003–04 Kevin Garnett*000MIN 1,139 14,968 2003–04
2004–05 1,108 Kevin Willis000ATL 11,893 2004–05
2005–06 Dwight Howard000ORL 1,022 Dikembe Mutombo*000HOU 11,639 2005–06
2006–07 1,008 12,127 2006–07
2007–08 1,161 12,326 2007–08
2008–09 1,093 Shaquille O'Neal*
000PHX 2008–09
000CLE 2009–10
000BOS 2010–11		 12,566 2008–09
2009–10 1,082 12,921 2009–10
2010–11 Kevin Love^000MIN 1,112 13,099 2010–11
2011–12 Dwight Howard000ORL 785 Kevin Garnett*
000BOS 2011–13
000BKN 2013–14		 13,313 2011–12
2012–13 Ömer Aşık000HOU 956 13,843 2012–13
2013–14 DeAndre Jordan^000LAC 1,114 14,201 2013–14
2014–15 1,226 Tim Duncan*000SAS 14,644 2014–15
2015–16 Andre Drummond^000DET 1,198 15,091 2015–16
2016–17 1,115 Dwight Howard
000ATL 2016–17
000CHO 2017–18
000WAS 2018–19
000LAL 2019–20
000PHI 2020–21
000LAL 2021–22		 12,089 2016–17
2017–18 1,247 13,101 2017–18
2018–19 1,232 13,184 2018–19
2019–20 Rudy Gobert^000UTA 916 13,691 2019–20
2020–21 960 14,271 2020–21
2021–22 Nikola Jokić^000DEN 1,019 14,627 2021–22
2022–23 Domantas Sabonis^000SAC 973 LeBron James^000LAL 10,667 2022–23
2023–24 1,120 11,185 2023–24
2024–25 Karl-Anthony Towns^000NYK 354 11,383 2024–25
Season Year-by-year leader REB Active player leader REB Career record REB Single-season record REB Season


See also

Notes

  1. The National Basketball Association did not record rebounding statistics until the 1950–51 season.
  2. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
  3. American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
  4. Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.
  5. Rebounds were not yet recorded during the player's tenure with this team and season(s).
  6. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.

References

  1. ^ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Total Rebounds". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference LLC. Retrieved 10 April 2015.

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