The Boston Celtics’ 5 all-time rebounding leaders

Bill Russell leads the Boston Celtics with 21,620 rebounds.

The Boston Celtics have one of the most storied franchises in NBA history. They have made the playoffs 61 times and won 18 championships. Some of the best players in league history have played for the Celtics. So let’s focus on the rebounding column and highlight the five best rebounders in franchise history.

1. Bill Russell, 21,620 rebounds

Russell was the second overall pick in the 1956 draft. He played 13 seasons in the league, all of them with the Celtics. He won the NBA MVP Award five times and finished in the top three in MVP voting nine times. He dominated the glass and led the league in rebounds per game five times. Another impressive feat was that he averaged at least 21.0 rebounds per game ten times in a season. He averaged 22.5 rebounds per game over the course of his career.

2. Robert Parish, 11,051 rebounds

Parish played 21 seasons in the NBA, including 14 with the Celtics. He played at least 72 games in each of his seasons with the team, including eight seasons in which he played at least 80 games. Although he wasn’t as dominant on the glass as Russell, he still averaged 10.0 rebounds per game during his time with the Celtics. His best season on the boards was when he averaged 12.5 rebounds during the 1988-89 season.

3. Dave Cowens, 10,170 rebounds

Cowens won the Rookie of the Year award with the Celtics for the 1970-71 season. He was also named MVP of the 1972-73 season. He averaged at least 15.0 rebounds per game in each of his first four seasons in the league. There were even two seasons where he averaged at least 16.0 rebounds per game. What helped Cowens achieve a high rebound total was that he averaged 39 minutes per game during his ten seasons with the Celtics.

4. Larry Bird, 8,974 rebounds

One of the most decorated players in NBA history, Bird was named league MVP three times during his career. He finished in the top three in MVP voting eight times. Bird could lead his team offensively, but was also a great rebounder. He averaged at least 10.1 rebounds per game in each of his first six seasons in the league. Overall, he averaged 10.0 rebounds per game over his career and played all 13 league seasons for the franchise.

5. John Havlicek, 8,007 rebounds

Havlicek spent 16 seasons in the NBA, all of them with the Celtics. He never appeared in fewer than 71 games per season and played in at least 80 games per season 11 times. His best performance on the boards came in the 1970-71 season, when he averaged 9.0 rebounds per game. This season he averaged an incredible 45 minutes per game. Playing heavy minutes was the norm for him considering he averaged 37 minutes per game in his career. Overall, he averaged 6.3 rebounds in 1,270 games with the Celtics.