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

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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)

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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

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Notes

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  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.
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