The NBA Playoffs are here, which means the intensity rises, games are more meaningful, and legacies are created ... or forever tarnished.
Basketball's best players shine under the brightest lights, solidifying themselves in NBA history while capturing the hearts of NBA fans worldwide. The best performances won't just be embedded into memories, but they'll be written in the record books.
A huge rebounding performance isn't as glamorous as a 50-point game or a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, but it's often telling of a player's ability and worth on the floor.
In 2023-24, Jusuf Nurkic grabbed 31 rebounds in just 32 minutes, marking the first 30-plus rebound game since 2021 and third since 2012. It used to be much more common, and over the course of NBA history, two Hall-of-Famers dominated the glass during the postseason.
Who has the most rebounds in an NBA playoff game? The Sporting News provides a list below.
Most rebounds in an NBA Playoff game
Surprise, surprise, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell lead the list of most single-game rebounds in NBA playoff history. These two are often leading many lists, especially Chamberlain when it comes to absurd stat lines.
Chamberlain and Russell are the only two names on the top 10 list for most rebounds in a single NBA playoff game. As for the top 100, the two Hall-of-Famers take up a combined 90 out of 100 spots.
Ridiculous.
Rank | Player | Team | Rebounds | Year | Result |
1 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | 41 | 1967 | Win |
T2 | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 40 | 1958 | Win |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 40 | 1960 | Loss | |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 40 | 1962 | Win | |
T5 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | 39 | 1965 | Win |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 39 | 1960 | Win | |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 39 | 1961 | Win | |
T8 | Wilt Chamberlain | San Francisco Warriors | 38 | 1964 | Loss |
Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | 38 | 1967 | Win | |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 38 | 1961 | Win | |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 38 | 1963 | Win | |
T12 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors | 37 | 1962 | Win |
Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | 37 | 1965 | Loss | |
T14 | Bill Bridges | Atlanta Hawks | 36 | 1971 | Win |
Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia 76ers | 36 | 1967 | Win | |
Willis Reed | New York Knicks | 36 | 1970 | Win | |
T17 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors | 35 | 1960 | Win |
Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors | 35 | 1962 | Win | |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 35 | 1960 | Win | |
Bill Russell | Boston Celtics | 35 | 1964 | Win |