Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Individual Records That Will Never Be Broken

By Matthew Hallett

SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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(Original Caption) 4/3/1966-Philadelphia,PA- 76ers Wilt Chamberlain (13), attempts to pass the ball, but is surrounded by Celtics Bill Russell (L) and fellow teammate, in the second period of play, of the NBA playoffs. The Celtics downed the 76ers 115-996. Getty ID: 514906916
(Original Caption) 4/3/1966-Philadelphia,PA- 76ers Wilt Chamberlain (13), attempts to pass the ball, but is surrounded by Celtics Bill Russell (L) and fellow teammate, in the second period of play, of the NBA playoffs. The Celtics downed the 76ers 115-996. Getty ID: 514906916 /

Wilt Chamberlain — 23,924 Rebounds

There is no player in the NBA today who will catch Chamberlain. Chamberlain averaged almost 23 rebounds per game over 1,045 games. Only Dwight Howard (12.67), Andre Drummond (12.60) and Kevin Love (11.52) have more than half the rebounds per game that Chamberlain collected.

None of these players will even come close.

Basketball was a totally different game back when Chamberlain played, with a much faster pace and less accurate shooting leading to many more rebounding opportunities.

The NBA has also started moving away from the traditional center position and with more players having greater athleticism, one player will not dominate the boards ever again like Chamberlain.

To put into perspective the achievement of Chamberlain, Tim Duncan is sixth all-time on the total rebounds list, almost 8,000 rebounds behind Chamberlain. Dennis Rodman, arguably the best rebounding player of the modern era, had only 11,954 rebounds at 13.1 rebounds per game.

Thankfully for the modern player, rebounding has been broken up into offensive and defensive. Chamberlain played his entire career before offensive rebounds became an official category for the 1973-74 season.

Kevin Garnett sits atop of that list with 11,453 defensive rebounds. Duncan is just more than 200 rebounds behind in third.

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