Moses Malone is one of two players to be in the top 5 single season rebounding leaders for the Rockets.
The Houston Rockets are an iconic franchise that have had a number of legendary players don their uniform throughout their 59-year history in the NBA. Today, we’re taking a look at the players who produced the top five single season rebounds per game during their tenures in Space City.
Moses Malone – 1979, 17.6 RPG
Of the three NBA greats that make up the top ten single season rebounds per game in Houston’s storied history, Malone stands alone at the top with his 17.6 rpg he hauled in during the 1978-79 campaign. In addition to his dominance on the glass, the 2001 Hall of Fame inductee averaged 24.8 points, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks across all 82 contests, helping ‘Big Mo’ earn the first of his three NBA MVP awards. Malone led the league in minutes played (41.3), offensive rebounds (7.2), defensive rebounds (10.5) and total rebounds (17.6) at just 23 years of age that season, notching career-best numbers in each rebounding category. Over the course of his 21-year career, Malone was a six-time total boards champ, including five straight seasons (1981-1985), and led the league in offensive boards nine times, giving him the all-time career record at 5.1 per game.
Elvin Hayes – 1969, 17.1 RPG
Hayes holds down the next three spots on Houston’s list. Then the San Diego Rockets, the franchise made ‘The Big E’ the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft, where he spent his first three seasons before they relocated to H-Town ahead of the 1971-72 campaign. In his rookie year, Hayes led the league in scoring by pouring in 28.4 points per game to go along with his 17.1 boards, and he registered 25 outings with 20 or more rebounds. The 1990 Hall of Famer also led the NBA in field goals made (11.3) and attempted (25.4) while making his first of 12 consecutive All-Star appearances, helping him finish second in Rookie of the Year voting to Wes Unseld.
Elvin Hayes – 1970, 16.9 RPG
In his sophomore season, Hayes earned his first of two career rebounding titles by pulling down 16.9 per game, adding 27.5 points and 2.0 assists while leading the NBA in games played (82), minutes (44.7) and field goal attempts (24.6). He recorded double-doubles in all but three outings and had 25 games with 20-plus boards. Hayes spent seven seasons with the Rockets, appearing in 572 games while posting averages of 20.6 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 1.9 apg and 0.9 bpg in 36.3 minutes. ‘The Big Enigma’ only missed nine total games across 16 years, an incredible feat for anyone, amassing career averages of 21.0 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.0 spg and 2.0 bpg.
Elvin Hayes – 1971, 16.6 RPG
As previously mentioned, Hayes’ third entrance in Houston’s history books came on the heels of his brilliant third season as a pro in 1970-71. He played in all 82 games for the third straight year, something he accomplished in eight of his 16 years in the NBA, and averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 16.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists while again leading the league in field goal attempts (27.0). Although a number of his individual accolades came during his time with the Washington Bullets (1972-1981), Hayes is still considered one of the greatest Rockets of all-time. He was a member of Washington’s 1978 championship squad, made six All-NBA teams (three First, three Second), two All-Defensive Second Teams, and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021-22.
Moses Malone – 1978, 15.0 RPG
Malone’s first full season in Houston was the 1977-78 campaign, a year before his breakout we discussed in the first slot of this list. In 59 outings, the ‘Chairman of the Boards’ put up 19.4 points, 15.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, pacing the NBA in offensive boards with 6.4 per game. Throughout his 21 seasons as a pro, Malone spent six of them as a member of the Rockets and averaged 24.0 ppg, 15.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.9 spg and 1.6 bpg across 464 appearances with the franchise. When he finally retired after the 1995 campaign, Malone was a 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA (four First, four Second), three-time league MVP, a 1983 champion and Finals MVP, and is a member of both the ABA All-Time Team and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
