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NBA: The best rebounder of all time from every NBA team

By Christopher Jeter

Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
(Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Best rebounder in Denver Nuggets history: Dikembe Mutombo

It’s somewhat fitting that the image of Dikembe Mutombo stands as the iconic moment in the aftermath of the Denver Nuggets beating the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1994 NBA playoffs. This was the first time an eight seed bested a one seed in a playoff series. In many ways, Mutombo was the driving force of that team.

Mutombo led that Nuggets squad in blocks, rebounds, and win shares and he was a big reason Denver ranked fifth in points allowed per 100 possessions. In that first round series against Seattle, Mutombo — who averaged 12 points, 11.8 boards, and a league-leading 4.1 blocks per game during the regular season — upped his numbers to 12.6 points, 12.2 boards and 6.2 blocks per game.

Unlike many of his Hall of Fame contemporaries, Mutombo lacked a refined post game, but the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft made his money swatting away opponents’ shots and gobbling up rebounds like candy.

Mutombo spent his first five seasons with the Nuggets and wasted no time establishing himself as one of the franchise’s premier rebounders. As of 2018, Mutombo holds half of the 10 of the highest single-season rebounds per game totals in franchise history.

He also holds the franchise record for the highest career rebounds per game (12.3) while ranking fourth on the Nuggets all-time offensive rebounds list (1,515) and second on the defensive rebounds list (3,297).

When Mutombo was a Nugget, the team was a force on the glass and on the defensive end. His skills on both fronts established the team’s identity through the early 1990’s and it led them to one of the most historic upsets in NBA playoff history.