List of National Basketball Association single-game rebounding leaders


This is a list of National Basketball Association players who have had 38 or more rebounds in a single game.
Multiple occurrences: Wilt Chamberlain 29 times and Bill Russell 23 times.
The NBA did not record rebounds until the 1950–51 season.
^Active NBA player
*Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Occurred in playoff competition

ReboundsPlayerTeamDateOpponentNotes
55*Philadelphia WarriorsBoston CelticsRecord set in a losing effort; grabbed 31 rebounds in one half; scored 34 points.
51*Boston CelticsSyracuse NationalsSet a then-record.
49*Boston CelticsPhiladelphia WarriorsSet a then-record for rebounds in a game; set a still-standing record of 32 rebounds in a single half.
49*Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
45*Philadelphia WarriorsSyracuse NationalsSingle-game record for a rookie; scored 44 points; the fourth quadruple double-double in NBA history.
45*Philadelphia WarriorsLos Angeles LakersScored 56 points; the fifth quadruple double-double in NBA history.
43*Philadelphia WarriorsNew York KnicksSet a then-record for a rookie; scored 39 points.
43*Philadelphia WarriorsLos Angeles LakersTriple overtime; Chamberlain also scored a then-record 78 points in the game; the sixth quadruple double-double in NBA history.
43*Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
43*Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
42*Philadelphia WarriorsBoston CelticsRookie season; scored 44 points; the second quadruple double-double in NBA history.
42*Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit PistonsRookie season; Chamberlain also scored a rookie record 58 points in the same game; the third quadruple double-double in NBA history.
42*San Francisco WarriorsDetroit Pistons
42*Philadelphia 76ersBoston CelticsScored 37 points.
42*Los Angeles LakersBoston CelticsOvertime.
41*Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
41*San Francisco WarriorsDetroit PistonsOvertime; scored 50 points; the seventh quadruple double-double in NBA history.
41*Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
41*Philadelphia 76ersBoston CelticsGame 3 victory in the Eastern Division finals.
40*Boston CelticsPhiladelphia WarriorsGame 3 victory in the Eastern Division finals.
40*Boston CelticsCincinnati RoyalsOvertime.
40*Philadelphia WarriorsSyracuse NationalsSet a then-record for a rookie; third game of career; scored 41 points; the first quadruple double-double in NBA history.
40*Boston CelticsSt. Louis HawksNBA Finals record
40*Boston CelticsPhiladelphia Warriors
40*Boston CelticsLos Angeles LakersNBA Finals record ; game 7 overtime victory; Russell's 19 rebounds in a single quarter is the most of any NBA quarter — regular season or playoffs; scored 30 points.
40*Cincinnati RoyalsPhiladelphia 76ersHis rookie season.
40*San Francisco WarriorsDetroit PistonsScored 50 points; the eighth and final quadruple double-double in NBA history.
40*Philadelphia 76ersBoston CelticsScored 31 points.
39*Philadelphia WarriorsSyracuse NationalsSet a then-record.
39*Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
39*Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
39*Philadelphia WarriorsCincinnati RoyalsRookie season; scored 39 points.
39*Philadelphia WarriorsSyracuse NationalsRookie season; scored 42 points.
39*Philadelphia WarriorsBoston CelticsRookie season; scored 43 points.
39*Boston CelticsPhiladelphia Warriors
39*Boston CelticsSyracuse Nationals
39*Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit PistonsScored 58 points.
39*Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
39*Philadelphia 76ersBoston CelticsScored 30 points.
38*Rochester RoyalsSyracuse NationalsRookie season; triple-double, scored 26 points with 12 assists.
38*Boston CelticsPhiladelphia Warriors
38*Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
38*Philadelphia WarriorsLos Angeles LakersScored 44 points.
38*Philadelphia WarriorsCincinnati RoyalsScored 32 points.
38*Boston CelticsSt. Louis HawksScored 30 points
38*Philadelphia WarriorsChicago PackersScored 39 points.
38*Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
38*San Francisco WarriorsBoston CelticsScored 40 points.
38*Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
38*San Francisco WarriorsBoston Celtics
38*Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
38*Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
38*Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco WarriorsTriple-double, scored 24 points with 13 assists.
38*Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco WarriorsTriple-double, scored 10 points with 10 assists; 26 rebounds in one half, setting the NBA Playoffs record.
38*Philadelphia 76ersSeattle SuperSonicsScored 53 points.
38*Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets

Since 1973

This is a complete listing for total rebounds since the season, but it is not a complete listing for offensive or defensive rebounds.
ReboundsOffDefPlayerTeamDateOpponentScoreMinutes playedPoints20-20Led the league in reboundingNotes
371918*Houston RocketsNew Orleans Jazz106–994433YesYes14 rebounds in the first quarter.
351619Chicago BullsCleveland Cavaliers103–1074126YesNoSecond to last game of season, in a season rebounding title battle, which he lost by a.03 margin to Michael Cage.
34529*Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons110–1004227YesYesNBA single-game record for defensive rebounds.
341816*Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers110–1074510NoYesOvertime. 21 rebounds in the second half, including 11 offensive rebounds.
34826Miami HeatWashington Bullets125–1064012NoNoSeikaly outrebounded the opposing team, 34–30.
331518Milwaukee BucksAtlanta Hawks126–1094130YesNo
331617Atlanta HawksWashington Bullets102–1034520YesNoOvertime. 11 offensive rebounds in a half.
33825*Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns110–954520YesNoBarkley outrebounded the opposing team 33–30, and played against his previous team for the first time.
32428*Capital BulletsAtlanta Hawks115–1094843YesYesOn Hayes's 28th birthday.
32725*Golden State WarriorsNew York Knicks114–983630YesNo11 rebounds in the first quarter. 15 rebounds in the first half, 17 rebounds in the second half.
32725 San Diego ClippersDenver Nuggets112–1084412NoYes21 rebounds in the second half. 18 defensive rebounds in the second half, setting the NBA record. 11 defensive rebounds in the fourth quarter.
322111* Houston RocketsSeattle SuperSonics117–1004438YesYesNBA single-game record for offensive rebounds; 11 offensive rebounds in one half, 10 in the other half. 15 total rebounds in the first half, 17 rebounds in the second half. Malone outrebounded the opposing team, 32–29.
321220* Detroit PistonsCharlotte Hornets100–955016NoYesOvertime.
32923* San Antonio SpursDallas Mavericks103–83438NoYes13 defensive rebounds in the first half.
311417Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets139–1424523YesNoRookie. Last Warriors home game of season.
311120 Atlanta HawksDallas Mavericks103–994029YesNo
31922* Detroit PistonsSacramento Kings89–83487NoYes
31823*Denver NuggetsCharlotte Hornets112–1195116NoNoDouble overtime.
311219^Minnesota TimberwolvesNew York Knicks112–10340:3931YesYes15 rebounds in the third quarter, and 22 rebounds in the second half. 13 defensive rebounds in the second half.
301119Seattle SuperSonicsLos Angeles Lakers129–1053925YesNo
301020Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers112–1074814NoNoElmore Smith of the Lakers had 11 blocks in the same game.
30624*Washington BulletsNew Orleans Jazz119–1034611NoYesLast game of season; won season rebounding title over Dave Cowens by a.01 margin. 14 rebounds in the first half, 16 rebounds in the second half.
30723* Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets105–994837YesNoOvertime.
301020 Buffalo BravesNew Jersey Nets111–1074427YesNo
301119Los Angeles ClippersSeattle SuperSonics100–109488NoYesLast game of season; won season rebounding title over Charles Oakley by a.03 margin.
301119* San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets98–97406NoYes
30822Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs98–8436:4116NoNo19 rebounds in the first half.
301119^Charlotte HornetsBrooklyn Nets111–1053432YesNo