# List of NBA annual rebounding leaders

In basketball, a rebound is the act of gaining possession of the ball after a missed field goal or free throw. An offensive rebound occurs when a player recovers the ball after their own or a teammate's missed shot attempt, while a defensive rebound occurs when a player recovers the ball after an opponent's missed shot attempt. The National Basketball Association's (NBA) rebounding title is awarded to the player with the highest rebounds per game average in a given season. It was first recognized in the 1950–51 season, which was the second season after the league was created in 1949 by merger of the 3-year-old BAA and 12-year-old NBL. Players who earned rebounding titles before the 1973–74 season did not record any offensive or defensive rebounds because statistics on them were not recorded before that season. To qualify for the rebounding title, a player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as annual rebounding leader if his rebound total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the 2013–14 season. The rebounding title was originally determined by rebound total through the 1968–69 season, after which rebounds per game was used to determine the leader instead.
Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time records for total rebounds (2,149) and rebounds per game (27.2) in a season; both records were achieved in the 1960–61 season. He also holds the rookie records for total rebounds, with 1,941 in the 1959–60 season. Among active players, Andre Drummond has the highest season rebound total (1,247) and the highest season rebounding average (15.99), both achieved in the 2017–18 season. At 22 years, 130 days, Dwight Howard is the youngest rebounding leader in NBA history (achieved in the 2007–08 season), while Dennis Rodman is the oldest at 36 years, 341 days (achieved in the 1997–98 season).
Chamberlain has won the most rebounding titles in his career, with 11. Dennis Rodman has won a record seven consecutive rebounding titles. Moses Malone has won six rebounding titles. Howard has won five rebounding titles. Kevin Garnett and Bill Russell have won four rebounding titles each. Drummond has won four rebounding titles. Elvin Hayes, Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ben Wallace, DeAndre Jordan, and Domantas Sabonis are the only other players who have won the title multiple times. Six players have won the rebounding title and the NBA championship in the same season: Mikan in 1953 with the Minneapolis Lakers; Russell in 1959, 1964, and 1965 with the Boston Celtics; Chamberlain in 1967 and 1972 with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively; Bill Walton in 1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers; Malone in 1983 with the 76ers; and Rodman in 1996, 1997, and 1998 with the Chicago Bulls.

## Key

| ^ | ^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA |
| * | * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| § | § | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 |
| ‡ | ‡ | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year |
| Player (X) | Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the rebounding leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the rebounding leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the rebounding leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the rebounding leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the rebounding leader up to and including that season |
| G | Guard | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center |

## Annual leaders

| Season | Player | Pos. | Team | Games played | Offensive rebounds | Defensive rebounds | Total rebounds | Rebounds per game |
| 1950–51 | Dolph Schayes* | F/C | Syracuse Nationals | 66 | — | — | 1,080 | 16.36 |
| 1951–52 | Larry Foust | C | Fort Wayne Pistons | 66 | — | — | 880 | 13.33 |
| 1951–52 | Mel Hutchins | C | Milwaukee Hawks | 66 | — | — | 880 | 13.33 |
| 1952–53 | George Mikan* | C | Minneapolis Lakers | 70 | — | — | 1,007 | 14.39 |
| 1953–54 | Harry Gallatin* | F | New York Knicks | 72 | — | — | 1,098 | 15.25 |
| 1954–55 | Neil Johnston* | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 72 | — | — | 1,085 | 15.07 |
| 1955–56 ‡ | Bob Pettit* | C | St. Louis Hawks | 72 | — | — | 1,164 | 16.17 |
| 1956–57 | Maurice Stokes* | F | Rochester Royals | 72 | — | — | 1,256 | 17.44 |
| 1957–58 ‡ | Bill Russell* | C | Boston Celtics | 69 | — | — | 1,564 | 22.67 |
| 1958–59 | Bill Russell* (2) | C | Boston Celtics | 70 | — | — | 1,612 | 23.03 |
| 1959–60 ‡ | Wilt Chamberlain* | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 72 | — | — | 1,941 | 26.96 |
| 1960–61 | Wilt Chamberlain* (2) | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 79 | — | — | 2,149 | 27.20 |
| 1961–62 | Wilt Chamberlain* (3) | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 80 | — | — | 2,052 | 25.65 |
| 1962–63 | Wilt Chamberlain* (4) | C | San Francisco Warriors | 80 | — | — | 1,946 | 24.32 |
| 1963–64 | Bill Russell* (3) | C | Boston Celtics | 78 | — | — | 1,930 | 24.74 |
| 1964–65 ‡ | Bill Russell* (4) | C | Boston Celtics | 78 | — | — | 1,878 | 24.08 |
| 1965–66 ‡ | Wilt Chamberlain* (5) | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 79 | — | — | 1,943 | 24.59 |
| 1966–67 ‡ | Wilt Chamberlain* (6) | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 81 | — | — | 1,957 | 24.16 |
| 1967–68 ‡ | Wilt Chamberlain* (7) | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 82 | — | — | 1,952 | 23.80 |
| 1968–69 | Wilt Chamberlain* (8) | C | Los Angeles Lakers | 81 | — | — | 1,712 | 21.14 |
| 1969–70 | Elvin Hayes* | C | San Diego Rockets | 82 | — | — | 1,386 | 16.90 |
| 1970–71 | Wilt Chamberlain* (9) | C | Los Angeles Lakers | 82 | — | — | 1,493 | 18.21 |
| 1971–72 | Wilt Chamberlain* (10) | C | Los Angeles Lakers | 82 | — | — | 1,572 | 19.17 |
| 1972–73 | Wilt Chamberlain* (11) | C | Los Angeles Lakers | 82 | — | — | 1,526 | 18.61 |
| 1973–74 | Elvin Hayes* (2) | F | Capital Bullets | 81 | 354 | 1,109 | 1,463 | 18.06 |
| 1974–75 | Wes Unseld* | C | Washington Bullets | 73 | 318 | 759 | 1,077 | 14.75 |
| 1975–76 ‡ | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* | C | Los Angeles Lakers | 82 | 272 | 1,111 | 1,383 | 16.87 |
| 1976–77 | Bill Walton* | C | Portland Trail Blazers | 65 | 211 | 723 | 934 | 14.37 |
| 1977–78 | Truck Robinson | F | New Orleans Jazz | 82 | 298 | 990 | 1,288 | 15.71 |
| 1978–79 ‡ | Moses Malone* | C | Houston Rockets | 82 | 587 | 857 | 1,444 | 17.61 |
| 1979–80 | Swen Nater | C | San Diego Clippers | 81 | 352 | 864 | 1,216 | 15.01 |
| 1980–81 | Moses Malone* (2) | C | Houston Rockets | 80 | 474 | 706 | 1,180 | 14.75 |
| 1981–82 ‡ | Moses Malone* (3) | C | Houston Rockets | 81 | 558 | 630 | 1,188 | 14.67 |
| 1982–83 ‡ | Moses Malone* (4) | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 78 | 445 | 749 | 1,194 | 15.31 |
| 1983–84 | Moses Malone* (5) | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 71 | 352 | 598 | 950 | 13.38 |
| 1984–85 | Moses Malone* (6) | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 79 | 385 | 646 | 1,031 | 13.05 |
| 1985–86 | Bill Laimbeer | C | Detroit Pistons | 82 | 305 | 770 | 1,075 | 13.11 |
| 1986–87 | Charles Barkley* | F | Philadelphia 76ers | 68 | 390 | 604 | 994 | 14.62 |
| 1987–88 | Michael Cage | F | Los Angeles Clippers | 72 | 371 | 567 | 938 | 13.03 |
| 1988–89 | Hakeem Olajuwon* | C | Houston Rockets | 82 | 338 | 767 | 1,105 | 13.48 |
| 1989–90 | Hakeem Olajuwon* (2) | C | Houston Rockets | 82 | 299 | 850 | 1,149 | 14.01 |
| 1990–91 | David Robinson* | C | San Antonio Spurs | 82 | 335 | 728 | 1,063 | 12.96 |
| 1991–92 | Dennis Rodman* | F | Detroit Pistons | 82 | 523 | 1,007 | 1,530 | 18.66 |
| 1992–93 | Dennis Rodman* (2) | F | Detroit Pistons | 62 | 367 | 765 | 1,132 | 18.26 |
| 1993–94 | Dennis Rodman* (3) | F | San Antonio Spurs | 79 | 453 | 914 | 1,367 | 17.30 |
| 1994–95 | Dennis Rodman* (4) | F | San Antonio Spurs | 49 | 274 | 549 | 823 | 16.80 |
| 1995–96 | Dennis Rodman* (5) | F | Chicago Bulls | 64 | 356 | 596 | 952 | 14.88 |
| 1996–97 | Dennis Rodman* (6) | F | Chicago Bulls | 55 | 320 | 563 | 883 | 16.05 |
| 1997–98 | Dennis Rodman* (7) | F | Chicago Bulls | 80 | 421 | 780 | 1,201 | 15.01 |
| 1998–99 | Chris Webber* | F | Sacramento Kings | 42 | 149 | 396 | 545 | 12.98 |
| 1999–00 | Dikembe Mutombo* | C | Atlanta Hawks | 82 | 304 | 853 | 1,157 | 14.11 |
| 2000–01 | Dikembe Mutombo* (2) | C | Atlanta Hawks Philadelphia 76ers | 75 | 307 | 708 | 1,015 | 13.53 |
| 2001–02 | Ben Wallace* | C | Detroit Pistons | 80 | 318 | 721 | 1,039 | 12.99 |
| 2002–03 | Ben Wallace* (2) | C | Detroit Pistons | 73 | 293 | 833 | 1,126 | 15.42 |
| 2003–04 ‡ | Kevin Garnett* | F | Minnesota Timberwolves | 82 | 245 | 894 | 1,139 | 13.89 |
| 2004–05 | Kevin Garnett* (2) | F | Minnesota Timberwolves | 82 | 247 | 861 | 1,108 | 13.51 |
| 2005–06 | Kevin Garnett* (3) | F | Minnesota Timberwolves | 76 | 214 | 752 | 966 | 12.71 |
| 2006–07 | Kevin Garnett* (4) | F | Minnesota Timberwolves | 76 | 183 | 792 | 975 | 12.83 |
| 2007–08 | Dwight Howard$^§$ | C | Orlando Magic | 82 | 279 | 882 | 1,161 | 14.16 |
| 2008–09 | Dwight Howard$^§$ (2) | C | Orlando Magic | 79 | 336 | 757 | 1,093 | 13.84 |
| 2009–10 | Dwight Howard$^§$ (3) | C | Orlando Magic | 82 | 284 | 798 | 1,082 | 13.20 |
| 2010–11 | Kevin Love^ | F | Minnesota Timberwolves | 73 | 330 | 782 | 1,112 | 15.23 |
| 2011–12 | Dwight Howard$^§$ (4) | C | Orlando Magic | 54 | 200 | 585 | 785 | 14.54 |
| 2012–13 | Dwight Howard$^§$ (5) | C | Los Angeles Lakers | 76 | 251 | 694 | 945 | 12.43 |
| 2013–14 | DeAndre Jordan^ | C | Los Angeles Clippers | 82 | 331 | 783 | 1,114 | 13.59 |
| 2014–15 | DeAndre Jordan^ (2) | C | Los Angeles Clippers | 82 | 397 | 829 | 1,226 | 14.95 |
| 2015–16 | Andre Drummond^ | C | Detroit Pistons | 81 | 395 | 803 | 1,198 | 14.79 |
| 2016–17 | Hassan Whiteside | C | Miami Heat | 77 | 293 | 795 | 1,088 | 14.13 |
| 2017–18 | Andre Drummond^ (2) | C | Detroit Pistons | 78 | 399 | 848 | 1,247 | 15.99 |
| 2018–19 | Andre Drummond^ (3) | C | Detroit Pistons | 79 | 423 | 809 | 1,232 | 15.59 |
| 2019–20 | Andre Drummond^ (4) | C | Detroit Pistons Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 250 | 614 | 864 | 15.16 |
| 2020–21 | Clint Capela^ | C | Atlanta Hawks | 63 | 297 | 606 | 903 | 14.33 |
| 2021–22 | Rudy Gobert^ | C | Utah Jazz | 66 | 241 | 727 | 968 | 14.67 |
| 2022–23 | Domantas Sabonis^ | C | Sacramento Kings | 79 | 251 | 722 | 973 | 12.32 |
| 2023–24 | Domantas Sabonis^ (2) | C | Sacramento Kings | 82 | 294 | 826 | 1,120 | 13.66 |

## Multiple-time leaders

| Rank | Player | Team | Times leader | Years |
| 1 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors/San Francisco Warriors (4) / Philadelphia 76ers (3) / Los Angeles Lakers (4) | 11 | 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 |
| 2 | Dennis Rodman | Detroit Pistons (2) / San Antonio Spurs (2) / Chicago Bulls (3) | 7 | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| 3 | Moses Malone | Houston Rockets (3) / Philadelphia 76ers (3) | 6 | 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 |
| 4 | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic (4) / Los Angeles Lakers (1) | 5 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 |
| 5 | Andre Drummond | Detroit Pistons (3) / Cleveland Cavaliers (1) | 4 | 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| 5 | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | 4 | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| 5 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 4 | 1958, 1959, 1964, 1965 |
| 8 | Elvin Hayes | San Diego Rockets (1) / Capital Bullets (1) | 2 | 1970, 1974 |
| 8 | DeAndre Jordan | Los Angeles Clippers | 2 | 2014, 2015 |
| 8 | Dikembe Mutombo | Atlanta Hawks (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (1) | 2 | 2000, 2001 |
| 8 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 2 | 1989, 1990 |
| 8 | Domantas Sabonis | Sacramento Kings | 2 | 2023, 2024 |
| 8 | Ben Wallace | Detroit Pistons | 2 | 2002, 2003 |