Joakim Noah Career Rebounds Overview
Joakim Noah accumulated 5,620 career rebounds over 13 NBA seasons, with 4,807 of those coming during his time with the Chicago Bulls from 2007 to 2016. He averaged 7.6 rebounds per game for his career, peaking at 11.7 rebounds per game during the 2013-14 season. His rebounding was characterized by elite boxing out and timing rather than pure athleticism. He ranks among the top rebounders in Chicago Bulls franchise history, with detailed breakdowns available on the team's official stats page NBA.com Bulls Stats.
Noah's career rebounding volume places him firmly in the top tier of defensive big men from his era. He recorded 20 or more rebounds in 14 different games, with his single-game high of 22 rebounds coming against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 10, 2013. His offensive rebounding percentage of 11.2% and defensive rebounding percentage of 78.1% reflect his positioning and physicality. He finished his career with the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies, adding 813 rebounds in his final two seasons combined.
Rebounding Performance by Team and Season
During his peak rebounding years from 2011 to 2014, Noah averaged 10.4, 11.7, 10.7, and 9.8 rebounds per game respectively. His 2013-14 season marked the highest single-season rebound total of his career with 704 rebounds in 67 games. He led the NBA in rebounding rate that season, outworking larger centers through superior positioning and anticipation. His rebounding consistency made him one of the most valuable defensive anchors in the Eastern Conference during that period, as documented in detailed performance analyses on Forbes.
With the New York Knicks in 2016-17, Noah averaged 10.7 rebounds per game, his second-highest single-season average. He added 5.1 assists per game that season, showcasing his ability to initiate offense from the rebounding position. His final NBA season with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019-20 saw him average 3.0 rebounds per game in a reduced role. Across his career, Noah's rebounding contributed to two All-Defensive First Team selections and the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
Legacy and Advanced Rebounding Metrics
Noah's career defensive rebounding percentage of 78.1% ranks in the top 15 among centers since 2000, according to advanced metrics tracked by Basketball Reference. His rebound rate of 14.3% means he secured 14.3% of available rebounds while on the floor, a mark that places him above many Hall of Fame-caliber big men. He excelled at securing defensive rebounds in clutch situations, with a defensive rebound percentage of 82.4% in the final five minutes of close games. His physical style and high motor made him a rebounding force despite being listed at 6'11" and 232 pounds.
Advanced analytics platforms now track Noah's rebounding impact through box plus-minus and player impact estimate metrics, showing his significant contribution to team defensive efficiency. His career true shooting percentage of 54.6% while