Wilt Chamberlain has the top eight rebounding performances in franchise playoff history and 15 of the top 20.
The Warriors are one of the most decorated franchises in league history with seven titles. Unsurprisingly, they’ve had some all-time players suit up for them over the years. One of them was Wilt Chamberlain, one of the greatest to ever do it. He wrote the record books for the Warriors in several statistical categories, and one of them is rebounds in a playoff game. Chamberlain has the top eight rebounding performances in franchise playoff history and 15 of the top 20. Let’s break down the top five rebounding outputs from Wilt the Stilt.
Wilt Chamberlain – 38 rebounds (1964 NBA Finals, Game 4)
The Warriors drew the tough assignment of playing the Celtics amid their dynasty in the 1960s. Though the Warriors lost the series in five games, a young Chamberlain showed he was a force to be reckoned with. He pulled down 38 rebounds, doubling the amount by Bill Russell on the other side of this matchup. Chamberlain added 27 points in the 98-95 loss in this game. For the series, Chamberlain averaged 29.2 points and 27.6 rebounds per game.
Wilt Chamberlain – 37 rebounds (1962 Eastern Division finals, Game 2)
Before the Warriors put down roots in the Bay Area, they were big Eastern Division rivals with the Celtics. They squared off three times in the Eastern Division finals between 1958 and 1962. Chamberlain was a big fixture in that rivalry, including the 1962 Eastern Division finals. He powered the Warriors to a 113-106 win in Game 2 with an unbelievable 37 rebounds to go with 42 points.
Wilt Chamberlain – 35 rebounds (1962 Eastern Division semifinals, Game 5)
Before advancing to the Eastern Division finals, the Warriors had to get past Syracuse in the semis. In a decisive Game 5, Chamberlain rose to the occasion and had one of the most impressive statistical showings on record. He dropped 56 points and pulled down 35 rebounds over 48 minutes as the Warriors punched their ticket to the next round of the playoffs.
Wilt Chamberlain – 35 rebounds (1960 Eastern Division finals, Game 5)
The Warriors were on the brink of elimination, facing the Celtics down 3-1 in the Eastern Division finals. A monster performance from Chamberlain helped the Warriors force a Game 6. He posted 50 points to go with 35 rebounds. He was able to outduel Bill Russell, who also had an incredible game with 22 points and 27 boards. Russell’s Celtics would go on to beat Chamberlain and the Warriors in Game 6 en route to winning the NBA Championship.
Wilt Chamberlain – 34 rebounds (1960 Eastern Division finals, Game 4)
Two days before Chamberlain’s 35-rebound outing, he pulled down 34 boards in the Game 4 loss to the Celtics. This goes to show the level of dominance Chamberlain had on the glass during this series. In six games, he averaged 30.5 points and 27.5 rebounds to help keep the Warriors competitive in nearly every game. Of course, this was Chamberlain’s rookie season in which he also won MVP. This wasn’t the only time Chamberlain recorded 34 rebounds in a playoff game; he matched that feat again in the 1962 Eastern Division finals, which was also again the Celtics.
