How To Score 5 More Points Per Game With Offensive Rebounding In Basketball

Billy was a 2-year starter for me. He was a 6'4" post. His offensive skills were limited, but he played extremely hard.

Over the course of the 2 seasons he started, he would sometimes get frustrated with his touches.

He would come to me and say, "Coach, I'm not a selfish player, but I feel like I should get the ball more."

I was torn on whether that was the case. On the one hand, he worked really hard, and it's nice to reward players who play with great effort.

On the other hand, he was not especially efficient offensively.

All that said, I knew I needed to give him something.

Here's what I settled on, "Billy, I understand how you feel. I want you to keep working hard to make yourself available around the basket. That said, I can't guarantee you'll get the ball. And I know you aren't a selfish player. But, I want you to be selfish - a selfish offensive rebounder. I'll make you a deal. If you get an offensive rebound, you have earned the right to shoot it. I won't question a shot you take after an offensive rebound the rest of the season."

He thought about it for a couple seconds and said, "Deal."

Was this a cure-all? Did he still get frustrated at times? Yes. However, it went a long way towards solving the issue. His scoring jumped from under 7 points per game to over 11 for the remainder of the year. And he shot 58% on shots following offensive rebounds.

In sum, his ‘selfishness' helped our team.

If you want to score more, follow Billy's lead!

What Is An Offensive Rebound In Basketball?

If you're new to the game, offensive rebounding might be an unfamiliar term.

An offensive rebound occurs when you rebound a shot taken by your team. This could be a shot you took or a shot taken by a teammate.

5 Ways To Get More Offensive Rebounds & More Points

Most players make half-hearted efforts to box out. Unfortunately, most offensive players make half-hearted efforts to crash the glass, meaning the poor box out goes unpunished.

Don't let that be you. Get to the offensive glass! If you get 2 putbacks and 1 free throw over the course of the game, that's 5 points you just added to your per game average.

And you'll have done it within the team framework, earning your coach's admiration (and potentially more playing time)!

Here are a handful of ways to get more offensive rebounds and second shots:

Spin off the box out - Most box outs aren't good. And yet, too many offensive players choose to run into the back of the player boxing them out and stay there.

Instead, spin off the box out. In doing so, you'll put yourself either even with the defense (making the rebound a 50/50 ball) or you might gain inside position, tipping the odds in your favor.

Get opposite - Roughly 70% of rebounds go to the opposite side from where the shot was taken. If your teammate shoots from the left wing, get to the right block.
Get half the distance of the shot - Most rebounds go about half the distance of the shot. In other words, a 3-point attempt will often carom off about 10 feet from the rim. A missed layup tends to come down right at the basket.
Crash through the elbows from the corners - The corners can be a tough place to offensive rebound from. Your coach may want you to get back on defense. Crash through the corners to do both.

When the shot goes up, run back on an arc through the elbow area. That allows you to get any offensive rebounds that are tipped back from the rim. The other benefit is you are now transitioning to defense in the middle of the floor, giving you better defensive position.

Scrum when you are boxed out - Sometimes you will play against a player who takes pride in boxing out. In that case, "scrum" them under the rim. Use your lower body to drive them under the basket. They might still have inside position, but you'll now be positioned to get any rebound that doesn't fall straight down.

One key: don't use your arms to scrum. That is likely to be called a foul. Use your hips and thighs to push the defender under the rim.

In fact, you should have your arms up when scrumming. This does 2 things. It shows the ref your hands, reducing the chances of a foul. It also makes it easier for you to catch a rebound that caroms hard off the rim.

How to Turn Every Shot into an Offensive Rebound Opportunity

Offensive rebounding is will and skill. You have to want to do it. That is a huge element. If you combine that with the tips above, you'll have both parts of the question.

The best rebounders are experts at reading shots. They can watch a ball in flight and anticipate where the rebound will go.

This is a skill that can be developed. Here's one great way to practice this:

In every partner shooting drill, never let a rebound hit the ground. Most teams do shooting drills where you will end up rebounding for a teammate. Most often, players go half-speed after rebounds and mindlessly pass back to their teammate.
Use this as a chance to improve. Practice reading the ball in flight. Make it a goal to not let any rebound hit the floor. With time, you will get better at reading where rebounds are going to bounce. That can give you a 1-2 step head start, which makes all the difference in the world.

Selfish Rebounders = Unselfish Teammates

I can guarantee your coach will never tell you to stop offensive rebounding so much! Why? Because it helps the team.

Offensive rebounding reminds me of a saying from Army Men's Basketball Assistant Coach Doug Novak - "Me First, For Us."

Does offensive rebounding benefit you? Of course - just ask Billy. Does it also benefit your team? Absolutely, as I'd gladly attest.

That's the best formula out there - something that helps you while helping the team. So go get some rebounds and get yourself some buckets!