Josh Harts eye-popping rebounding numbers continue historic pace

On a night when the opposing coach compared his acumen on the boards to Dennis Rodman’s, Josh Hart moved ever closer toward joining an elite category of rebounders in NBA history.Hart’s 18 rebounds in another triple-double performance in Saturday’s win over the Kings gave him an eye-opening average of 9.8 per game in 45 appearances this season.With 36 games remaining, beginning with Monday’s home matchup against the Grizzlies, the 6-foot-4 Hart has a legitimate chance to become only the fourth guard in NBA history to record at least 10 rebounds per game in one season, according to StatMuse.Tom Gola accomplished the feat in three consecutive years for the Philadelphia Warriors from 1957-60.Oscar Robertson also did it in three straight seasons for the Cincinnati Royals from 1960-63.

And Russell Westbrook grabbed at least 10 per game four times — three for the Thunder from 2016-19 and again for the Wizards in 2020-21.The 29-year-old Hart has averaged 12.7 rebounds over 13 January games, and he easily will join that company if he continues at a similar clip the rest of the way.“I just try to go get the basketball,” Hart said following his sixth triple-double of the season, the fifth most in the league.“Sometimes, unfortunately, I steal rebounds from my guys.

I don’t try to.“Whenever I see the ball hit the rim, I see the ball and nothing else.I see arms and all that.

I have no idea whose arms they are.My thing is just, ‘Go get the basketball.’ So I think it’s that.”While teammate Karl-Anthony Towns ranks second overall in the NBA in rebounding (13.9 rpg), behind only Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, Hart is second to Sabonis in total rebounds for the month with 165.Hart also is scoring 14.1 points per game and posting career highs in rebounds, assists (5.7), minutes (37.8), steals (1.5) and field goal percentage (.558).“Not only the rebounds, whatever the game [needs] — the hustle, the heart, the toughness,” Tom Thibodeau said Saturd...