Rebound Royalty: Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominate NBA Finals history

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals is the stage every player in the league dreams of reaching, with hopes of leading their team to glory. While every player aspires to win an NBA championship, being named NBA Finals MVP is a rare and prestigious honor that only a select few achieve.

Winning an NBA title isn’t just about scoring; it also demands excellence on the defensive end. When it comes to rebounding—an often underappreciated aspect of the game—only two players in league history stand out for recording the most rebounds in a single NBA Finals game: Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, both legends of the sport.

Here’s a look at the most rebounds recorded in a single NBA Finals game:

Bill Russell (40 Rebounds) – 1962 Finals, Game 7

In addition to winning the regular-season MVP, Bill Russell continued his dominance in the NBA Finals by scoring 30 points and grabbing a staggering 40 rebounds in 53 minutes of action. His heroic effort helped the Boston Celtics defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 to clinch the title. He averaged 26.4 rebounds per game in the series.

Bill Russell (40 Rebounds) – 1960 Finals, Game 2

Though he finished second in MVP voting that season, Russell once again had the last laugh by leading the Celtics to another championship. His standout moment came in Game 2 of the Finals against the St. Louis Hawks, where he tallied 21 points and 40 rebounds in over 48 minutes of play.

Wilt Chamberlain (38 Rebounds) – 1967 Finals, Game 2

Wilt Chamberlain, one of the most dominant forces in NBA history, led the league in rebounding during the 1966–67 season with an average of 24.2 rebounds per game. In Game 2 of the Finals, he pulled down 38 rebounds to help the Philadelphia 76ers defeat the San Francisco Warriors, en route to capturing his first NBA championship.

Wilt Chamberlain (38 Rebounds) – 1964 Finals, Game 4

In the 1963–64 season, Chamberlain played for the San Francisco Warriors and averaged 22.3 rebounds per game. In Game 4 of the Finals against the Boston Celtics, he recorded 27 points and 38 rebounds. Despite his individual brilliance, the Warriors lost the series in five games.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.