The Atlanta Hawks’ top 5 all-time leaders in rebounds.
While scorers often steal the spotlight, the big men who dominate the paint are crucial to any NBA team’s success. Here’s a look at the Atlanta Hawks’ top five most effective players near the basket:
1. **Bob Pettit – 12,849 rebounds**
Pettit is the Hawks’ all-time rebounding leader and played for the franchise throughout his entire career. Drafted second overall in 1954 by the Milwaukee Hawks (before their move to St. Louis), the 6-foot-9 power forward/center was an 11-time All-Star and two-time NBA MVP, earning All-NBA First Team honors 10 times. He led the league in rebounding in his third season and averaged double-digit rebounds every year of his career, peaking at 20.3 rebounds per game in the 1960-61 season. Pettit also averaged 14.8 rebounds in 88 postseason games, including 16.5 per game during the Hawks’ championship run in the 1957-58 playoffs.
2. **Bill Bridges – 8,656 rebounds**
Bill Bridges ranks second behind Bob Pettit in the Hawks’ all-time rebounding list. Though their careers briefly overlapped, Bridges wasn’t initially drafted by the Hawks after a standout college career at Kansas. He was selected in the third round (32nd overall) by the Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards) in 1961, but chose to play for the Kansas City Steers in the American Basketball League, where he led the league in rebounds for two seasons. Bridges later signed with the St. Louis Hawks, earning three All-Star selections and two NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors. Despite being undersized at 6-foot-6 for a power forward, he averaged 11.9 rebounds per game during his career, including seven consecutive double-digit rebounding seasons. His time with the Hawks also spanned their first three-plus seasons after relocating to Atlanta.
