List of NBA rookie single-season rebounding leaders

This list exhibits the National Basketball Association's top rookie single-season rebounding averages and top rookie single-season rebounding averages since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976 based on at least 70 games played or 800 rebounds. The NBA did not record rebounds until the 1950–51 season.

Statistics accurate as of the 2023–24 NBA season.

^	Active NBA player
*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration^[a]
Bold	Denotes NBA season leaders

All-time

Rank	Season	Player	Team	Games	Rebounds	RPG
1	1959–60	Wilt Chamberlain*	Philadelphia Warriors	72	1,941	27.0
2	1956–57	Bill Russell*	Boston Celtics	48	943	19.6
3	1961–62	Walt Bellamy*	Chicago Packers	79	1,500	19.0
4	1968–69	Wes Unseld*	Baltimore Bullets	82	1,491	18.2
5	1963–64	Jerry Lucas*	Cincinnati Royals	79	1,375	17.4
6	1968–69	Elvin Hayes*	San Diego Rockets	82	1,406	17.1
7	1955–56	Maurice Stokes*	Rochester Royals	67	1,094	16.3
8	1971–72	Elmore Smith	Buffalo Braves	78	1,184	15.2
9	1970–71	Dave Cowens*	Boston Celtics	81	1,216	15.0
10	1958–59	Elgin Baylor*	Minneapolis Lakers	70	1,050	15.0
11	1964–65	Willis Reed*	New York Knicks	80	1,175	14.7
12	1969–70	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*	Milwaukee Bucks	82	1,190	14.5
13	1992–93	Shaquille O'Neal*	Orlando Magic	81	1,122	13.9
14	1954–55	Bob Pettit*	Milwaukee Hawks	72	994	13.8
15	1963–64	Gus Johnson*	Baltimore Bullets	78	1,064	13.6
16	1951–52	Mel Hutchins	Milwaukee Hawks	66	880	13.3
17	1953–54	Ray Felix	Baltimore Bullets	72	958	13.3
18	1964–65	Lucious Jackson	Philadelphia 76ers	76	980	12.9
19	1981–82	Buck Williams	New Jersey Nets	82	1,005	12.3
20	1991–92	Dikembe Mutombo*	Denver Nuggets	71	870	12.3

Since NBA/ABA merger (1976)

Rank	Season	Player	Team	Games	Rebounds	RPG
1	1992–93	Shaquille O'Neal*	Orlando Magic	81	1,122	13.9
2	1981–82	Buck Williams	New Jersey Nets	82	1,005	12.3
3	1991–92	Dikembe Mutombo*	Denver Nuggets	71	870	12.3
4	1980–81	Larry Smith	Golden State Warriors	82	994	12.1
5	2010–11	Blake Griffin^†	Los Angeles Clippers	82	989	12.1
6	1989–90	David Robinson*	San Antonio Spurs	82	983	12.0
7	1997–98	Tim Duncan*	San Antonio Spurs	82	977	11.9
8	1984–85	Hakeem Olajuwon*	Houston Rockets	82	974	11.9
9	1983–84	Ralph Sampson*	Houston Rockets	82	913	11.1
10	1991–92	Larry Johnson	Charlotte Hornets	82	899	11.0
11	2004–05	Emeka Okafor	Charlotte Bobcats	73	795	10.9
12	2023–24	Victor Wembanyama^	San Antonio Spurs	71	755	10.6
13	1982–83	Terry Cummings	San Diego Clippers	70	744	10.6
14	1982–83	Clark Kellogg	Indiana Pacers	81	860	10.6
15	1977–78	Marques Johnson	Milwaukee Bucks	80	847	10.6
16	2015–16	Karl-Anthony Towns^	Minnesota Timberwolves	82	858	10.5
17	1979–80	Larry Bird*	Boston Celtics	82	852	10.4
18	1992–93	Alonzo Mourning*	Charlotte Hornets	78	805	10.3
19	2018–19	Deandre Ayton^	Phoenix Suns	71	729	10.3
20	1990–91	Derrick Coleman	New Jersey Nets	74	759	10.3

See also

• National Basketball Association

Notes

1. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com