There are many ways players can contribute to the game of basketball.
While scoring is the most recognized stat for measuring a player’s success, there are other skill sets they must develop.
We are talking about passing, blocking, stealing and collecting rebounds.
In fact, when a player receives double digits in two out of these 5 categories, the NBA records them of having earned a double-double.
If they hit double digits in three categories, they record a triple double.
But let’s break the elements down. Passing is usually attributed to a player’s offensive skill set.
Blocking and stealing are important components defensive abilities.
Meanwhile, rebounds can come from both the attacking and defending ends.
Offensive rebounds allow the team attacking team another chance at a basket, while defensive rebounds stop the opposing team dead in their tracks.
If you still don’t know what a rebound is, I characterize in the bold paragraph below.
For some, you might have specific questions on what exactly constitutes a rebound. I cover this information as well, so keep on reading…
What is a Rebound in Basketball?
In basketball, a rebound is the act of gaining possession of the ball after a missed shot. An offensive rebound is when the attacking team recovers the ball, while a defensive rebound is credited to the team defending their end. Rebounds require good timing, positioning, and the ability to jump and grab the ball at its highest point.
The most confusing aspect of the rebound is what the NBA considers a missed shot.
Any time the ball hits the rim or the backboard off a shot, the first player to recover the ball will be credited with the rebound.
The same applies for air balls too. Even though the ball never comes close to the basket, the shot attempt is still taken into consideration.
While a blocked shot is not considered a rebound, the recovery of the ball afterwards can be.
Should the ball go out of bounds after the blocked shot, the team that regains possession on the in-bound will be credited with the rebound.
Note that if the ball is ripped from the shooter’s hands while attempting the shot, the referee will deem the play as a “shot block-steal”.
In this case, no rebound is recorded. The player who gets the ball stolen will be slapped with a turnover.
Lastly, if the attacking player standing at the net tips the ball into hoop on the missed shot attempt, they will be credited with the rebound and the field goal.
How does the NBA Report on Rebound Stats?
Rebounds are reported the same way for points, steals, blocks and assists for every player.
The individual stats show an average per game value in rebounds.
That value is rounded to the first decimal as such: 12.5 Rebounds Per Game (aka REB or RPG).
To distinguish between offensive and defensive rebounds, there are dedicated columns for each respectively titled as OREB and DREB.
The same rounding number is used to show each player’s per game average.
Lastly, there is another metric known as rebounding percentage.
Rebounding percentage is the measure of how many available rebounds a player collects when they are on the court.
To calculate the %, you must divide the player's total rebounds by the total number of rebounds available when they were on the court.
This gives us an idea of how involved and efficient a player is at collecting both offensive and defensive boards.
Sandro Azerrad
