Predicting the 5 rebounds leaders for the 2021-22 NBA season

#3 Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets grabs a rebound against Cameron Payne #15 of the Phoenix Suns in Game Three of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Ball Arena on June 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.

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.

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#2 Clint Capela

Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks battles for a rebound against Semi Ojeleye #37 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at State Farm Arena on February 24, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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.

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#1 Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz grabs a rebound during the first half of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 11, 2021 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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.