Oklahoma City Must Buy Into Team Rebounding to Find Success

Oklahoma City was hounded for a lack of rebounding all season a year ago. The qualms were supported, though, by the Thunder’s lack of a true big man. The team regularly started Kenrich Williams and Jaylin Williams at the center spot, leaving a big hole in the lineup. The team made do, though, and figured out a way to win.

Fast forward a year later, and Chet Holmgren is starring in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup. Many expected the Thunder’s 7-foot prodigy to magically fix all of the rebounding issues from a season ago. While he certainly helps, it’s now even more clear that the rebounding issues from a season ago didn’t just stem from the front court. It’s a lack of team rebounding as a whole, not just the big men on the roster.

With so much height and versatility on the roster, rebounding should come naturally. Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are all capable rebounders next to Holmgren in the starting lineup. At 6-foot-10, Ousmane Dieng should certainly provide some relief, too. But so far this season, the team hasn’t excelled in the team rebounding department.

Giddey seems to be the key catalyst in helping the Thunder's rebounding effort improve, as his numbers on the glass are down significantly from a season ago. The 6-foot-8 guard has averaged near eight rebounds per game in both of his two seasons in the NBA, and is down to 5.7 in 2023-24. He hasn't been in a rhythm for the majority of the season.

Jalen Williams has struggled to make an impact on the glass after moving full-time to the power forward spot, too. The long wing is averaging just 4.6 rebounds per game, which is the exact same total as a season ago.

Holmgren is trying his best to box out with his slender frame, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game. But for his efforts to be effective, the team has to crash the boards as a whole.

Trading for a big center that can't shoot or make smart passes would completely destroy the Thunder's offense. The line has to be wide open for Gilgeous-Alexander and the dribble-drive offense to operate, and adding a stagnant big man right in the middle would clog things up big time.

It could make sense to trade for backup big man that's a solid rebounder, but the Thunder's starting lineup is relatively set. Figuring out how to rebound as a team is the best solution moving forward.