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The art of rebounding is one of the most important aspects of the game in the NBA. Though not as celebrated as a three-point throw or an assist, rebounding remains an essential part of the winning formula. However, unlike other aspects of basketball, it plays an important role in both the offensive and defensive ends of the game.
There is a popular belief among coaches in the NBA, that you can shoot, dribble, pass, and even try to defend too much when playing teams, but you can never rebound too much. Many players put in a great amount of time to perfect their rebounding skills. The likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain and Dennis Rodman made their careers from rebounding. Any team with hopes of success must have at least one good rebounder in it, to help secure turnovers and increase productivity.
Here are the predictions for the top-five rebound leaders for the 2021-22 season.
Who will lead the NBA in rebounds this new season?
#5 Nikola Vucevic
When you average double digits for rebounds in 7 out of your 10 season-long career as a professional NBA player, you surely will be in the top rebounds leaders conversation. Especially when you consider that Nikola Vucevic was a whisker away from posting double digits in two of those seasons, except for his rookie year with the Philadephia 76ers. The big man is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, and standing at 7 feet he makes for an excellent rebounder.
His talent for both offensive and defensive rebounds has never been in doubt ever since his 76ers days. In his first season with the Orlando Magic, he broke the team’s record for the highest rebounds in a game (29). He also broke the record of the legendary Shaquille O’Neal, while finishing 2nd in Magic’s record book for the most rebounds, before heading to the Bulls.
His record has only gotten better since then, averaging nearly a dozen rebounds per game (11.7) the previous season. He has a career average of 10.4 rebounds per game, and if he can continue his good form and stay fit, he should rank amongst the top five rebounders in the coming season.
#4 Giannis Antetokounkpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in modern NBA history. But more importantly, considered to be a legendary rebounder. His ability to secure possession and create more opportunities for his team is an amazing skill and was one of the Milwaukee Bucks' strengths on their way to a first championship in 50 years.
Throughout the playoffs, he averaged staggering numbers in different categories, but it was his rebounding that caught the eye of many, posting 12.8 rebounds during the playoffs (13.8 in the 2019-20 playoffs) and leading to an NBA MVP Finals award that capped off a brilliant season.
He has emerged as one of the NBA’s leading rebounders, ranking 7th in rebounds per game last season, posting an incredible average of 11.0 rebounds. He has also registered double digits in rebounds since the 2017-18 season, helping the Milwaukee Bucks emerge as the top team for rebounds in recent years, as they finished second in the overall rebounds table.
#3 Nikola Jokic
The NBA Western Conference's third-place team, the Denver Nuggets, have several players on their roster that can hold their own in a rebound situation, but no one is as impactful as star player Nikola Jokic. The big center was never in doubt to make this list. Going from being the 41st overall pick in the draft in 2014, to dominating the league and winning the 2021 NBA MVP last season. The Nuggets center has truly taken his game to another level over the past three seasons.
The Serbian was ranked fifth in the NBA for rebounds, posting 780 rebounds in 72 matches for the Nuggets. His rebounds per game stood at 10.8 per game - a career-high, tying his 2018-19 season, despite playing fewer games. He posted 11.6 rebounds per game in the postseason and currently has a career tally of 9.8 rebounds per game, a little under double digits.
#2 Clint Capela
Clint Capela is one of the most important players for the Atlanta Hawks, providing something that most Hawk fans would call legendary and vital to their hopes of success. Since making his NBA debut, Capela has risen to the challenge, placing himself as the foremost rebounder in the league and leading the league in rebounds per game.
The Hawks center averaged 14.3 rebounds per game despite sitting out a few games due to an Achilles injury in the 2020-21 NBA season. The Swiss international was the first Hawks player in more than two decades since Dikembe Mutombo (1999-2000), to lead the league in rebounds per game, surpassing Mutombo’s record of 14.1. He was first in offensive rebounds (297) and fifth in defensive boards (606) - all career-highs, and posted a 26.1% total rebound percentage, the team’s best since Dwight Howard in 2016-17.
Swiss Bank, who has a career average of 10.4 rebounds per game in his seven season long NBA career, thinks he is “definitely one of the best at doing it”, and we certainly think so too. Surely the rebounding titleholder is one to look out for this season.
#1 Rudy Gobert
No other player on this list is more worthy than the three-time and current Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. The two-time NBA All-Star player and one-time blocks champion is also a master of the art of rebounding.
The Utah Jazz center is poised to be the rebounds leader in the 2021-22 NBA season. He was instrumental in getting the Jazz to lead the league in total rebounds in the previous season, putting up 960 rebounds which is about 27.6% of the total rebounds made by the team. He finished the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons with an average of 13.5 rebounds per game and should be on track to top that this coming season. Gobert is an elite rebounder with a career average of 11.3 rebounds per game.
Guess the Lakers players!
