2018-19 Regular Season: Rebounds per Game Leaders so far

Rebounding the ball and securing your ground is as pivotal in a basketball game as it is to score at regular intervals. To dominate the boards on both the offensive and defensive glass is something only a few big men have mastered across the league.

A strong rebounder can provide you with heaps of second-chance points, which usually prove to be game-changing down the stretch. Skilled big men like the following are able to make space beneath the rim and put themselves in a position to grab a sturdy rebound.

The following slideshow consists of a bunch of Bigs who have been conquering the backboards on a regular basis this season. The number of rebounds they have accumulated so far is just astounding, to begin with.

Let's dive in and take a look at top 5 players (bottom to top) in terms rebounds per game from the 2018-19 season so far.

Note: The following standings are subject to change in the future as the regular season progresses.

#5 Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) - 12.8 rpg

Rudy is one prominent member of the All-Star snub team this year.

Gobert is NBA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, so suffice to say, he knows how to use his length. The 7-foot-1 center from France has been making waves in the league as Utah Jazz's leading big man.

In the 54 games he has played this season, Gobert has pulled down a mammoth total of 692 rebounds (third best in the league) and is averaging almost 13 rebounds a game. Averaging around 32 minutes per game this year, it is mind-boggling how Gobert is able to keep up such dominant numbers along with being physical on both ends of the floor.

His presence in the paint is underlined by the fact that he is top 5 in blocks in the league, and matches it up with almost 4 offensive rebounds per game on the other end.

Just like Rudy, his fans were taken aback on him being snubbed from the All-Star squad. It goes to show how the league is shifting tectonically towards offence-driven basketball, relying heavily on the 3-and-D style of play.

#4 Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans) - 13.3 rpg

AD is the most sought after player in the league right now.

What makes Davis' presence on this list special is that he has been showing such finesse in all the other aspects of basketball as well. He is top 5 in points per game, blocks per game, 2nd chance points per game, points in the paint per game, and of course, rebounds per game.

No wonder teams are pulling in all stops to land this prospect. He plays Power Forward but can also provide you the minutes of a fairly efficient Center. In terms of rebounds precisely, Davis is a career 10.6 rpg player and has pulled down 545 boards in just 41 games ever since the 2018-19 year kicked off.

His current average of 13.3 rebounds for this season is a career-high. Matched with another career-high in points (29.3), there's not a doubt that he's the piece you need if you crave for a deep postseason run.

#3 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) - 13.5 rpg

Joel Embiid's MVP bid has cooled off recently.

The Cameroonian is just tearing defences apart with every passing game. Despite intermittent back problems, Embiid is posting averages that overshadow his past season by a huge margin. He has been indispensable to the Sixers' offence as they have appeared as promising contenders in the East.

Across the 50 games he has started for Philly, a total of 674 rebounds has fallen in his possession, making this his best rebounding year ever. He secures the defensive glass almost 11 times a game and leads the league in defensive rebounds per game as of this moment.

It's tough to average 27.4 points and still be able to pull down around 13+ boards every game, but Embiid has proven to be a quintessential incarnation of a modern-day big, able to score/defend in the paint, as well as secure the ball with command consistently.

#2 DeAndre Jordan (New York Knicks) - 13.7 rpg

DeAndre Jordan's thunderous alley-oop dunks are a defensive nightmare.

DJ's season so far has seen him being shipped to New York from Dallas, which was preceded by an end to a 10-year stint at the Clippers in LA.

Carrying a blazing career rebounding average of 10.8, Jordan's rebounding prowess is well-known around the league. He averaged a career-high 15.2 rebounds per game a couple of seasons ago and is putting up another stellar campaign on the boards in the ongoing season as well.

DeAndre's stats suggest a total of 706 rebounds (2nd most in the league) along the 52 games he has played for varying teams this season, as he averages almost 14 boards per game.

Although all the media attention is being channelled to his considerable improvement at the foul line, DJ has continued to do what he does best, and that is, dominate in the paint.

All this and he has still been able to maintain the league's second-best field-goal percentage (64.6), providing high-efficiency minutes for his team on both ends of the floor.

#1 Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons) - 14.8 rpg

Andre Drummond has taken a backseat ever since Griffin's arrival in Detroit.

With Blake Griffin able to take much of the offensive load, Drummond has concentrated all his attention on securing the paint and being a statistically-proven beast on the boards.

He is the leading the league in offensive rebounds (260) and total rebounds (741) this season. Already a 2-time NBA rebounding leader (2016, 2018), Drummond is en route to heading the rebounding field again this year. Currently, His 14.8 rebounds per game are the most by any player on any team.

The fact that he can give you 5+ offensive rebounds (league-leading) every game opens up the opportunity for second-chance points for the Pistons on a nightly basis. He is averaging a double-double along the 50 games he has started for the Pistons and is one of the very few players on the roster who are able to provide consistent support to Blake Griffin.