Top 15 rebounds leaders for 2012-2013 NBA season

Dwight Howard #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Getty Images)

Players who clean up the glass are invaluable. Even though many players tend to pad their rebounding stats, it’s ultimately a positive thing and extremely important.

David Lee is one player who is sometimes accused of chasing down rebounds for its own sake, but his coach Marc Jackson has said that there is nothing wrong if his player’s motivation is to get 15 rebounds per game.

Here’s a look at the top 15 players who led the league in rebounds this season:

1. Dwight Howard: 12.4 RPG | LA LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers knew what they were getting with Howard. Even though he is not at full strength he still manages to lead the league in rebounds per game. Howard had 9.1 defensive rebounds and 3.3 offensive rebounds. This goes to show that rebounding is just as much about technique as it is about athletic prowess.

2. Nikola Vucevic: 11.9 RPG | Orlando Magic One of the most underpaid players in the league, and a candidate for most improved player this season. Vucevic had 8.4 defensive boards and 3.5 rebounds.

3. Omer Asik: 11.7 RPG | Houston RocketsPlaying for the Rockets, Asik amassed 8.3 defensive rebounds and 3.4 offensive rebounds.

4. Zach Randolph: 11.2 RPG | Memphis Grizzlies Z-Bo had 7.2 defensive rebounds and 4.1 offensive rebounds. And he’s short and not a high leaper.

5. David Lee: 11.2 RPG | Golden State WarriorsAs mentioned, Mark Jackson, coach of the Warriors, has said that he has no problem with Lee’s motivation of getting 15 rebounds per game. So neither should anyone else. While many coaches scoff at stat chasing, Coach Jackson sees it as a positive thing. David Lee averaged 8.5 defensive rebounds and 2.8 offensive rebounds. It’s been said that Lee may be one of those players who can average 20-10 and still be on a team with a losing record, but that says more about the team than about him.

6. Reggie Evans: 11.1 RPG |Brooklyn NetsPlaying for the Nets, Reggie Evans is making a case for getting a higher salary. He averaged 7.9 defensive rebounds and 3.3 offensive rebounds.

7. JJ Hickson: 10.4 RPG | Portland Trail BlazersThe Blazer averaged 7 defensive rebounds and 3.3 offensive rebounds. While playing on the same team as LaMarcus Aldridge, he still out-rebounded the team’s star.

8. Al Horford: 10.2 RPG | Atlanta HawksAl Horford averaged 7.6 defensive rebounds and 2.6 offensive rebounds for the Hawks.

9. DeMarcus Cousins: 9.9 RPG | Sacramento Kings There is a good chance that Cousins will end up on a different team very soon. He is one of the more promising big men in the league but his temperament has always been an issue. Usually players who are aggressive and impulsive end up being great rebounders. Cousins averaged 7 defensive rebounds and 3 offensive rebounds.

10. Carlos Boozer: 9.8 RPG | Chicago Bulls Boozer only stands at 6″9 and yet he managed to out-rebound players way taller than him. He averaged 7.5 defensive rebounds and 2.2 offensive rebounds.

11. Greg Monroe: 9.6 RPG | Detroit PistonsPlaying for the Pistons, Monroe averaged 6.7 defensive rebounds and 2.9 offensive rebounds.

12. Larry Sanders: 9.5 RPG | Milwaukee Bucks The buck averaged 6.3 defensive rebounds and 3.2 offensive rebounds.

13. Tristan Thompson: 9.4 RPG | Cleveland CavsThompson played for the Cavaliers and averaged 5.7 defensive rebounds and a whooping 3.7 offensive rebounds.

14. Kenneth Faried: 9.2 RPG | Denver Nuggets‘The Manimal’ averaged 5.9 defensive rebounds and 3.3 offensive rebounds for the Nuggets

15. Al Jefferson: 9.2 RPG | Utah JazzJefferson averaged 7.2 defensive rebounds and 2 offensive rebounds per game for the Jazz.