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
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.