5 active NBA players with the most rebounds in their career

The NBA is home to some of the best basketball players in the league. Some of the greatest players like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul- Jabbar have achieved a lot of success and cemented their names as the greatest in the game. The aforementioned players were primarily known for their scoring, however, when their team needed them they also contributed by grabbing those necessary rebounds.

The art of rebounding the ball is special. Legends of the game like Bill Russell and Dennis Rodman perfected it. Even though their game was much more than just rebounding, they sometimes outrebounded the whole team by themselves and helped their team get to wins. In the modern game, players who can rebound the ball are considered assets to their teams.

Players like Andre Drummond and Clint Capela have established their names as the best rebounders in the league. The former averages 13.7 and the latter averages 10.5 RPG throughout their careers. Other players like Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert are also recognizably great rebounders of the ball. On that note, in today's article we talk about five active NBA players with the most rebounds in the league.

Five active NBA players with the most rebounds in their careers

#5 LaMarcus Aldridge

San Antonio Spurs v Dallas Mavericks

LaMarcus Aldrige is one of the best big's in the league. His presence in the paint and ability to nail down those jumpers have helped his team out of many tough situations. In his 16 year NBA career, Aldrige has played for three teams. However, he was in his prime when he played for the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 36 year old scored 12562 points in the nine seasons he played for the Trail Blazers. Aldrige was also a phenomenal rebounder of the ball, he secured 5343 and was a great help on the defensive board for the team. After serving the Blazers for 9 years, LaMarcus Aldrige decided to move to the San Antonio Spurs.

He was already a league veteran when he arrived there. The Big was an integral part of the team, scoring 7325 points and grabbing 3020 rebounds in the 6 seasons he played there. LaMarcus decided to move to the Brooklyn Nets for what looked like the final few seasons of his career. However, he has been brilliant for them. After deciding to retire midway through the 2020-21 season, he returned to action at the start of the season and has since been great for them. In his limited time at Brooklyn, the veteran has grabbed a total of 63 rebounds.

To put his rebounding stats into numbers, Aldridge has grabbed a total of 8517 rebounds at a career average of 8.7 RPG. He is proving to be a big addition for the Nets and will certainly add a lot more rebounds in his stint with the Nets.

#4 Andre Drummond

Atlanta Hawks v Philadelphia 76ers

Andre Drummond was drafted 9th overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2012. He is one of the best rebounders of the ball and is a big presence in the paint. While playing for Detroit, the big grabbed a total of 8199 rebounds. He has won four rebounding championships in his career and three of them came when he played for the Pistons.

He decided to move to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2020-21 season. He played two seasons for the Cavaliers and grabbed a total of 426 rebounds. The Lakers then signed him to the team. Although he came in as the second or sometimes third option center, he grabbed 214 rebounds in his only season there.

After just one season, Drummond moved to the Philadelphia 76ers. He has been great on the defensive and offensive board, grabbing a total of 75 rebounds in the eight games played so far. In his 12 years in the NBA, the 30 year old has grabbed a total of 8914 rebounds at an average of 13.7 rebounds.

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#3 LeBron James

LeBron James is probably one of the best players in the game of basketball. He has his name in almost every basketball book because of his unparalleled brilliance. The 36-year-old started his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has had two stints with the franchise and in total has played 11 seasons for them.

During his time with the Cavs, the Kid from Akron grabbed a total of 6998 rebounds. He won the franchise their only championship and made the team relevant. LeBron also played four seasons with the Miami Heat. He won two championships for them and grabbed 2225 rebounds. His brilliance helped him become the Finals MVP both times the Heat won the championship.

The King is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been a part of the team for 4 seasons and helped the team win an NBA championship during the 2019-20 season. In his four seasons with the Lakers, LeBron has secured a total of 1369 rebounds. Throughout the 19 seasons, he has been in the league, LeBron has grabbed a total of 9784 rebounds at a career average of 7.4.

#2 DeAndre Jordan

Brooklyn Nets v Indiana Pacers

DeAndre Jordan was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008. He was part of the famous Lob City team and was an integral part of it. In his 10 seasons with the Clippers, Jordan has grabbed a total of 7988 rebounds. He won two consecutive rebounding titles in 2014 and 2015. DJ's presence in the paint was massive and he was also one of the best rim protectors in the league.

After 10 years with the Clippers, DeAndre Jordan moved to the Dallas Mavericks. In his only season there, he secured 686 rebounds. The 33-year-old then moved to the New York Knicks in 2019. He grabbed 216 boards in his limited time with the team.

Midway through the 2019-20 season, Jordan was recruited by the Brooklyn Nets. He secured 988 rebounds for the team and was a great help to them. After two seasons in Brooklyn, the Lakers signed DeAndre Jordan. The 33-year-old has been a very important part of the team. In nine games, DJ has grabbed a total of 64 rebounds. In 15 seasons playing in the league, the big has grabbed a total of 9927 rebounds, averaging 10.5 rebounds per game.

#1 Dwight Howard

Los Angeles Lakers Media Day

Dwight Howard is one of the best centers in the modern era. He was drafted number one overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 draft. Howard was one of the leaders of the Magic team that went to the NBA Finals in 2009. Throughout his eight seasons with Orlando, Howard grabbed a total of 8072 rebounds. He won three rebounding titles with the team and established a big name for himself in the league.

Howard then moved to the star-studded Lakers team during the 2012-13 season. He averaged a league-high 12.4 rebounds per game, but that Lakers team failed to make any significant impact in the playoffs. Howard then played for the Houston Rockets for three seasons. During his stint there, he grabbed a total of 2132 rebounds.

Post that, Howard moved to teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards. He finally found a place in the championship team of the Lakers. During the 2019-20 season, he grabbed a total of 507 rebounds and was an integral part of the championship team. After one year there, he moved to the Philadelphia 76ers. In his only season there, Howard grabbed 580 rebounds.

Before the start of the 2021-22 season, he was once again called by the Purple and Gold. He has been a great addition to the team and has a total of 28 rebounds to his name. To put his magnificent rebounding stats into numbers, the 35-year-old has secured a total of 14299 rebounds at an average of 12.0. He is currently placed 11th on the list of the most rebounds and can climb a few more places before he retires.