What makes an effective rebounder?
When thinking about the most notable rebounders in basketball history, names like Wilt Chamberlin,
Dennis Rodman, Charles Barkley, and Bill Russell immediately come to mind. Although players like Chamberlin and Russell were blessed with incredible athletic skills (especially for the time and place in which they played), all great rebounders have several innate characteristics that make them own the backboards.
1. Tenaciousness
- The majority of rebounding the basketball is nothing more than a desire to work harder than your opponent. Words like fearlessness, intensity, determination, relentlessness, and grit perfectly describe the attitude that it takes to grab rebounds.
2. Body Positioning
- The best rebounders are not always the most athletic or physically gifted players on the floor. Guys like Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman were only 6’6” and 6’7” respectively, yet they are considered two of the best rebounders in NBA history. Regardless of athletic ability great rebounders know how to effectively use their body to block out defenders and secure rebounds.
Charles Barkley is 18th in NBA history with 12,546 rebounds
3. 6th Sense
- The difference between a good rebounder and a dominant rebounder is an understanding and feel for where the ball is going to bounce off the rim. The best rebounders are always in the right position to rebound the ball and have that 6th sense for where the ball will land.
Rebounding Sections
Below is a summary of the two rebounding sections on AreteHoops.
In this section you will find…
- Detailed explanations on how to effectively use your body positioning to “block out” and grab rebounds
- Simple advice on how to improve your offensive rebounding
In this section you will find…
- Discussion on how to take your rebounding to the next level
- Detailed principles that will improve your rebounding effectiveness
