As the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend draws near, the spotlight isn’t just on highlight dunks or scoring explosions - it’s also firmly on the glass. Rebounding, one of the game’s most fundamental and telling stats, is proving once again to be a difference-maker night in and night out.
The league’s top rebounders aren’t just collecting missed shots - they’re dictating tempo, ending possessions, and setting the tone physically. Whether it’s through sheer size, elite timing, or relentless effort, these ten players are showing why controlling the boards still wins games.
1. Nikola Jokić - 12.2 rebounds per game
Jokić makes rebounding look like an art form. He doesn’t rely on out-jumping people - he beats them with anticipation, angles, and feel.
His ability to read the trajectory of a shot before it even hits the rim is uncanny. Combine that with his soft hands and balance, and you’ve got a guy who can secure boards in traffic without ever seeming rushed.
What separates him from the pack, though, is what happens next: those signature outlet passes that turn rebounds into fast breaks in a blink. It’s old-school rebounding with a modern twist - and it’s devastatingly effective.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns - 11.9 rebounds per game
Towns brings a cerebral approach to rebounding. His size gives him a natural edge, but it’s his timing and anticipation that elevate his game.
He reads shot arcs with precision and gets to his spot before most defenders even think to move. Once he’s got the board, he’s already looking to push - a key reason his team thrives in transition.
Towns doesn’t just clean the glass; he uses it as a springboard to offense.
3. Rudy Gobert - 11.4 rebounds per game
Gobert’s rebounding is a masterclass in discipline and control. He doesn’t chase boards - he owns his space and dares anyone to take it from him.
With his length and positioning, he’s rarely outmuscled or outmaneuvered. He’s the kind of rebounder who ends possessions with authority.
No second chances, no chaos - just clean, fundamental dominance in the paint.
4. Donovan Clingan - 11.3 rebounds per game
Clingan brings a throwback physicality to the modern game. He’s not afraid of contact - in fact, he welcomes it.
He plants himself under the rim, establishes position, and fights for every inch. His size is a weapon, but it’s his motor that keeps him among the league’s elite rebounders.
Every board he grabs feels like a statement - a reminder that the paint belongs to him.
5. Victor Wembanyama - 11.1 rebounds per game
Wembanyama is redefining what’s possible on the glass. His wingspan lets him reach rebounds that most players can’t even contest.
But it’s not just about length - it’s about how he moves. He covers ground with ease, tracks the ball with precision, and uses impeccable timing to snatch boards out of the air.
His rebounding game is all about range and rhythm - and when he’s locked in, it feels like no ball is truly out of reach.
6. Ivica Zubac - 11.0 rebounds per game
Zubac might not make the highlight reels, but his rebounding is as steady as they come. He sticks to the fundamentals - boxing out, sealing off defenders, maintaining leverage - and he does it every single night.
There’s nothing flashy about it, but there’s something to be said for consistency. When the shot goes up, you know Zubac is going to be in the right place, doing the right thing.
7. Jalen Johnson - 10.6 rebounds per game
Johnson brings a different flavor to the rebounding leaderboard. He’s a high-flyer who attacks the glass with speed and bounce.
He elevates in traffic, grabs the board, and takes off - often turning defense into instant offense. His versatility allows him to rebound outside his position, and his energy gives his team a jolt.
He’s the kind of player who makes rebounding exciting again.
8. Jalen Duren - 10.5 rebounds per game
Duren rebounds like every possession depends on it - because for him, it does. He crashes the glass with ferocity, using his strength and explosiveness to carve out space and win battles.
His second-jump ability is elite, allowing him to clean up tips and loose balls that others can’t get to. When Duren’s in the paint, it’s a war zone - and more often than not, he comes out on top.
9. Jusuf Nurkić - 10.2 rebounds per game
Nurkić brings a rugged, no-nonsense approach to the boards. He uses his frame to seal off opponents and his strength to hold position in traffic.
His rebounding isn’t about flash - it’s about control and patience. He understands how to read the flight of the ball and how to use his body to keep opponents at bay.
In the trenches, Nurkić is as reliable as they come.
10. Bam Adebayo - 9.8 rebounds per game
Adebayo’s rebounding is built on versatility and awareness. He’s constantly switching, rotating, and covering ground defensively - and yet he still finds a way to be in the right spot when the shot goes up.
His quickness and instincts allow him to beat bigger players to the ball, and his mobility means he can rebound well outside the traditional big-man zones. He’s a modern defensive anchor with a rebounding game to match.
Why It Matters
Rebounding is one of those stats that doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it’s often the difference between winning and losing. These ten players are proving that every possession counts - and that controlling the glass is still one of the surest ways to control the game. Whether it’s a game-sealing board in crunch time or a momentum-shifting rebound that leads to a fast break, these guys are doing the dirty work that championship teams are built on.
As the season pushes past the All-Star break and into the stretch run, expect these names to keep showing up in the box score - and more importantly, in the win column.