2015 Oklahoma City Thunder Review: One Last Look

Offensive Rebounding Percentage vs. Defensive Rebounding Percentage

I broke down offensive and defensive rebounding percentage to show the different strengths for players on the team. Offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding are both rebounding by definition, but they are two very different skills as demonstrated above.

Kanter’s defensive rebounding was on par with his career percentages, but what made him such a threat last season for the team was his offensive rebounding percentages. Not including his rookie season (because most rookies are terrible), Kanter carried an offensive rebounding percentage around 12.7 percent in Utah, but with the Thunder, that number spiked to 17.5 percent. If Kanter was able to maintain that number throughout the season, he would have finished second in the league, behind only Andre Drummond.

Some might be calling for a regression to the mean for Kanter this season.

Mitch McGary also stands out as an incredible defensive rebounder. With only last season to measure his ability, it’s unclear whether McGary can sustain his defensive rebounding percentage – he would have finished in the top 25 had he played in enough minutes to qualify – but his college numbers suggests he is a very good defensive rebounder. As with every graph so far, Westbrook stands out. At a very generous 6-foot-3, Westbrook is the best rebounder at his size and did it on both ends of the floor.

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