Rebounding

Dennis Rodman is widely regarded as the G.O.A.T. of rebounding.

Article by SG Basketball Coach Victor Tan

Rebounding - The most unglamorous job in basketball.

Fancy an elbow to your face? Maybe a chipped tooth? How about a broken nose?

These are occasional perks if you hustle hard enough to win your team a rebound. Somewhat unglamorous, this skill set hugely influences a team’s chances of winning. Win a defensive rebound, and you stop the opponents from getting a second shot. With luck, a strong defensive rebound can even lead to a swift outlet and fast break opportunities.

Controlling the offensive rebounding end can lead to second chance points and easy baskets. You hardly hear any winning team, let alone a championship team, being the inferior rebounding side.

Good positioning holds the key to be a great rebounder. Many associate a player’s height as the most crucial element, but the heart of the player is just as important. Ferocity and determination, coupled with good positioning, can often compensate for the lack of height. Boxing out and keeping opponents behind you; make split second calculations in your head before you explode for your jump completes the full course rebounding set meal.

A great example of a rebounding behemoth would be NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman. Standing at a modest 201cm, he was not considered a giant in NBA circles. Yet, he led NBA in rebounding for 7 straight years in the 90s and was a 5 time NBA Champion with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. He was a huge contributing piece in Michael Jordan’s second 3-peat championship run. His tenacity and impact on the boards were unmatched in the NBA for years. His unselfishness; there were numerous games when he had 0 points and more than 20 rebounds, with him taking less than 3 shots the entire game, made him the ultimate complimentary piece in a championship team.

Coaches at SG Basketball have always lauded players who contribute tirelessly on the rebounding front. It is never always about the scoring the most number of points or being the flashiest player. There are so many ways to influence a game positively and we actively seek to inculcate this understanding in all our trainees.

So the next time you step on a basketball court, remember to show some love to those fighting tooth and nail to win the next rebound.

Many coaches agree that the team that controls the boards has a higher chance to win the game.