Best Rebounders in the NBA This Year
Rebounding is one of the biggest keys to success in the NBA. A key rebound can change the entire momentum of the game or even seal a close win.
While small ball has taken over the NBA, introducing a new era of positionless basketball, there are still a ton of great rebounders.
This list will cover our top six rebounders and break down each ranking.
These 6 Bigs have been some of the NBA's best offensive rebounders this year!
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) May 30, 2022
Dynamic Grades show performance relative to other 2021-22 Bigs w/500+ minutes played.
Players w/A/A+ grades in both Offensive Rebounding Crashing & Conversion Skill are shown.https://t.co/JKt6Rp2O7i pic.twitter.com/E2zrRC1d2V
1. Domantas Sabonis
After guiding Turkey to a youth Olympic gold medal, Sabonis made his pro debut at 16 with Unicaja Malaga. He had to Gonzaga a couple of years later to begin his college career.
It didn't take long for him to make an impact, as the big man was selected for the WAC All-Freshmen first team and overall WAC second team in 2015.
Like the other players on this list, Sabonis is an attacking force who can out-rebound anyone in the league. He's also a talented offensive player, averaging over 18 points and six assists.
Health has been one area of concern, as Sabonis hasn't played more than 62 games since 2018. He already has 54 games this season, so barring injury, he should surpass that mark.
2. Nikola Vucevic
After starring at USC, the forward was drafted by the Sixers as the fifteenth pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Vucevic would last just one reason there, as he was traded to the Orlando Magic and began what may be a hall-of-fame career.
Vucevic would break out in Orlando, leading him to average over 10 rebounds in ten of his next twelve seasons.
On top of being an elite rebounder, the center is also a fantastic scorer with a 49.5% field goal percentage.
Now with Chicago, Vucevic has become one of their most important players despite his scoring dropping a bit. He currently averages over 17 points and 11 rebounds per game.
3. Rudy Gobert
After being drafted late in the first round by the Jazz, Ruby Gobert has become one of the NBA's top rebounders. In just his third season he averaged over 11 rebounds per game and he hasn't looked back since.
His best season came last year when he averaged over 14 per game. That would prove to be his final season in Utah, as the Jazz chose to trade him to Minnesota in the off-season.
Things have fallen off for him with the Timberwolves, but he is still averaging over 11 rebounds.
Gobert has also established himself as an elite defender, averaging over 2 blocks per game during his career.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis is considered to be one of the best athletes in the NBA due to his combination of size and agility. With an average of over 11 rebounds in each of his last six seasons, the Greek Freak has earned his way on to our list.
What has made Giannis such a great rebounder is his combination of size and agility. At 6'11" the forward already has a height advantage, but with the added athleticism it makes him almost impossible to stop.
The two-time MVP is also elite on offense, leading Milwaukee to a championship just two seasons ago. He is in the midst of his best year, averaging 32.4 points and 12.3 rebounds.
5. Clint Capela
Capela came into the NBA in 2014 when he was drafted by the Houston Rockets. He had a successful career overseas, forgoing college in the US to build his game.
It took three seasons for him to adjust to American basketball, but he broke out in his fourth season by averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds. He remains a top rebounder today, averaging over 11 so far this season.
n 2020 Capela would move from Houston to Atlanta, where he joined a talented Hawks roster. His first season with the Hawks was the best of his career (15.2 PPG, 14.3 RPG, 2.0 BPG), but his numbers have dwindled. While still a dominant rebounder, Capela is no longer the offensive threat he once was.
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6. Steven Adams
The New Zealand native was selected with the 12th pick in the 2013 draft thanks to a successful college career at Pitt. While not known for his offense, Adams made a name for himself by being a physical and aggressive rebounder.
While his scoring remains inconsistent, the center has improved his rebounding numbers consistently over his career. This season he is averaging over 11 per game, the highest mark of his career.
One of the things that separate Adams from the other players on this list is his ability to grab offensive rebounds. He leads the NBA this season with over five a game, which has helped Memphis become one of the top teams in the league.