LaMarcus Aldridge is an even better rebounder than you think

Nine years into his NBA career, LaMarcus Aldridge has established himself as an elite offensive player. The Blazers’ forward is averaging over 23 points and 10 rebounds per game for the second consecutive season, putting him in some seriously elite company. Only 28 players in NBA history have averaged those numbers in two or more seasons. Provided he maintains those statistics over the remainder of the 2014-15 season, Tim Duncan will be the only active NBA player with more seasons of 23/10 per game.

Feb 3, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) and center Robin Lopez (42) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to the signing of Robin Lopez, Aldridge played a much higher percentage of his minutes at the center position (something he is not a fan of doing) and, as goes with the territory, fought for boards against bigger, stronger rebounders. In his two seasons alongside Lopez, Aldridge has averaged 10.8 rebounds per game. This season, Aldridge has secured 72.6% of rebound chances—the highest number among power forwards averaging at least 24 minutes per game.

More than likely, Aldridge will become the Trail Blazers’ franchise leader in rebounds against Orlando on Friday. He will enter the game trailing Clyde Drexler by just nine rebounds.

Always vaunted for his scoring, particularly his back to the basket game, Aldridge has long been criticized for his work on the glass. Entering the NBA as a slight, lanky forward with a mid-range jump shot and not much else, it really is remarkable how Aldridge has progressed. In his rookie year, Aldridge averaged just 4.3 defensive rebounds per 36 minutes. In 2014-15, Aldridge pulls down 3.5 more defensive boards per 36 minutes, and his 7.9 defensive rebounds per game place him among the league’s 10 most prolific rebounders on that end of the floor.

Aldridge’s rebounding stats are all the more impressive when we consider the team’s rebounding philosophy. The Blazers’ lead the league in defensive rebounding with 35.2 per game and have largely owned the defensive boards through their commitment to team rebounding. Chris Kaman currently leads the team in DREB%, securing 26.1 percent of the team’s defensive rebounds while he is on the court. Aldridge ranks third among current Blazers, grabbing 23.1 percent of defensive rebounds—the lowest percentage among the NBA’s top-10 defensive rebounders.

The Blazers’ defensive rebounding philosophy makes it difficult for one player to dominate the defensive boards game-to-game, like DeAndre Jordan does with the Los Angeles Clippers, for example.

Aldridge is putting up elite rebounding numbers, on an elite rebounding team that currently has seven different players averaging four or more rebounds per game, and he is doing it with hustle. Aldridge effectively “chases down” rebounds on the defensive end of the floor. He grabs over half of his total rebounds on missed shots 19+ feet from the rim and 24.9% of his rebounds are secured more than six feet away from the rim.