Trail Blazers Enes Kanter first player since 2018 with 30 rebounds in a game

May 28, 2024

Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter became the first player in three years to get 30 rebounds in a game in Portland's 118-102 win against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

Kanter had 24 points and 30 boards, including 12 offensive rebounds in the win. Kanter broke Sidney Wicks’ franchise record for rebounds in a game (27, set in 1975). Kanter is the first player to pull down 30 rebounds in a game since Dwight Howard in 2018.

Putting Kanter's accomplishment in perspective

Jason Quick, Trail Blazers beat writer: Kanter's 30 rebounds were not only the most in the NBA since 2018, and the most ever by a Trail Blazers player, but they were nearly what Detroit as a team grabbed (38). He broke Wicks' franchise record, which came in double overtime, and he broke the franchise rebounding record in regulation of 26 held by Bill Walton, Joel Przybilla and LeRoy Ellis. He also set the franchise record for offensive rebounds in a game.

"It speaks for itself,'' Damian Lillard said. "I mean, 30 rebounds is 30 rebounds. It takes a lot of effort and persistence to do that.''

Kanter's impact this season

Quick: Kanter has been a savior for the Blazers this season as starting center Jusuf Nurkic has been healthy for only 18 of the team's 52 games.

"Enes has been unbelievably important to our team this year,'' coach Terry Stotts said. "Not just tonight. But for as many games as Nurk has missed this year, to have a player of Enes' caliber as a backup center, and what he has done for the team … he's a big part of the reason why we have as many wins (31) as we do.''

Kanter has not missed a game this season and is averaging 12.2 points and 12 rebounds.

(Photo: Troy Wayrynen / USA Today)

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