Wilt Chamberlain has the top 8 rebounding performances in Lakers playoff history and 15 of the top 20.
Two players have dominated the record books in terms of most rebounds in a single NBA Finals game. They are two of the best players in NBA history in Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Let’s highlight the top five rebounding performances in NBA Finals history.
1. Bill Russell, 40 Rebounds – 1962 Finals Game 7
Russell averaged 23.6 rebounds per game during the 1961-62 season. He was named regular season MVP, adding averages of 18.9 points and 4.5 assists per game to his rebounding prowess. His rebounding dominance continued in the playoffs, including a pivotal Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals against the Lakers. Russell recorded 40 rebounds and 30 points over 53 minutes to help the Celtics win the title. During that entire playoff run, Russell averaged 26.4 rebounds.
2. Bill Russell, 40 Rebounds – 1960 Finals Game 2
Russell led the NBA in rebounds per game in each of his first three seasons in the league. While he didn’t lead the league in 1959-60, he averaged 24.0 rebounds per game on his way to finishing second in MVP voting. In Game 2 of the 1960 NBA Finals against the St. Louis Hawks, Russell grabbed 40 rebounds and scored 21 points over 48 minutes. The Celtics lost the game, but they went on to win the series in seven games.
3. Wilt Chamberlain, 38 Rebounds – 1967 Finals Game 2
Chamberlain led the NBA by averaging 24.2 rebounds per game during the 1966-67 regular season. He also averaged 24.1 points and 7.8 assists on his way to winning the MVP award. In Game 2 of the 1967 NBA Finals, Chamberlain hauled in 38 rebounds and posted a triple-double in a dominant win over the San Francisco Warriors. The 76ers won the series in six games, marking Chamberlain’s first championship.
4. Wilt Chamberlain, 38 Rebounds – 1964 Finals Game 4
Chamberlain averaged 22.3 rebounds per game during the 1963-64 regular season with the San Francisco Warriors. In Game 4 of the 1964 NBA Finals, he posted 38 rebounds and 27 points across 48 minutes against the Celtics. The Warriors lost that game and eventually lost the series in five games. During that playoff run, Chamberlain averaged 34.7 points and 25.2 rebounds across 12 games.
5. Bill Russell, 38 Rebounds – 1961 Finals Game 5 and 1963 Finals Game 2
Russell recorded 38 rebounds in an NBA Finals game two separate times during his career. The first occurrence came in Game 5 of the 1961 Finals. He finished with 38 rebounds and 30 points over 48 minutes. The Celtics closed out the series to win the title in that game. The second time that he grabbed 38 rebounds came in Game 2 of the 1963 Finals against the Lakers. The Celtics won that game and eventually won the series in six games.
