List of NBA annual minutes played leaders

In basketball, minutes of game time during which a player is on the court are recorded. The minutes played statistics are recorded as far back as the 1951–52 season when statistics on minutes were first compiled by the National Basketball Association (NBA). Fifteen times the average leader has played fewer than 40 minutes per game and eight times the leader has played more than 46 minutes per game. Wilt Chamberlain has the seven highest leading totals, while Nate "Tiny" Archibald is the only other single-season leader to average over 46 minutes per game. In one season, Chamberlain averaged over 48 minutes per game (meaning that he rested fewer minutes during the season than he played in overtime during the season).

Wilt Chamberlain holds the seven highest season-leading minutes played averages and led the league nine times.

To qualify as minutes leader, the player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as annual minutes leader if his minute total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the 2013–14 season.^[1]

Chamberlain led the league in minutes played per game nine times, followed by Allen Iverson (7) and Michael Finley (3) times. Twelve other players have led the league in minutes per game twice, eight of them in consecutive years. Chamberlain holds the record for consecutive titles with five, followed by Iverson with three (two times). Fifteen times a member of the San Francisco/Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors has led the league in average minutes. Nine full seasons and parts of another the average leader played for the Philadelphia 76ers. Seventeen seasons and parts of another the leader played for either the Philadelphia Warriors or the Philadelphia 76ers.

In 16 of the 61 seasons since the statistic has been kept, the minutes per game leader was not the total minutes played leader. Larry Bird and Iverson are the only multiple leaders in average who were surpassed in total minutes multiple times. Five of Iverson's seven times and both of Bird's times as the average leader they were surpassed in total minutes. Kevin Durant is the only player to lead the league in total minutes without finishing in the top three in average minutes during the same season. He is also the only player to never lead in average minutes, but lead in total minutes multiple times. The first four times and five of the first seven times that the leader in average did not lead in total minutes, he finished second in total minutes. However, the last six times that the average leader did not lead the league in total minutes, he was outside of the top 10 and the last nine times, he was outside of the top 5.

Key

^		Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
*		Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†		Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[lower-alpha 1]
Player (X)		Denotes the number of times the player had been the minutes leader up to and including that season
G	Guard		F	Forward	C	Center

Annual leaders

Allen Iverson led the league in average minutes seven times.

Michael Finley led the league in average minutes three times.

Season	Player	Position[lower-alpha 2]	Team	Games played	Total minutes	Minutes per game[2]	References
1951–52	Paul Arizin*	F/G	Philadelphia Warriors	66	2939	44.53	[3]
1952–53	Neil Johnston*	C	Philadelphia Warriors	70	3166	45.23	[4]
1953–54	Neil Johnston* (2)	C	Philadelphia Warriors	72	3296	45.78	[4]
1954–55	Paul Arizin* (2)	F/G	Philadelphia Warriors	72	2953	41.01	[3]
1955–56	Jack George	G	Philadelphia Warriors	72	2840	39.44	[5]
1956–57	Dolph Schayes*	F/C	Syracuse Nationals	72	2851	39.60	[6]
1957–58	Dolph Schayes* (2)	F/C	Syracuse Nationals	72	2918	40.53	[6]
1958–59	Bill Russell*	C	Boston Celtics	70	2979	42.56	[7]
1959–60	Wilt Chamberlain*[lower-alpha 3]	C	Philadelphia Warriors	72	3338	46.36	[10]
1960–61	Wilt Chamberlain* (2)	C	Philadelphia Warriors	79	3773	47.76	[10]
1961–62	Wilt Chamberlain* (3)	C	Philadelphia Warriors	80	3882	48.52	[10]
1962–63	Wilt Chamberlain* (4)	C	San Francisco Warriors	80	3806	47.58	[10]
1963–64	Wilt Chamberlain* (5)	C	San Francisco Warriors	80	3689	46.11	[10]
1964–65	Oscar Robertson*[lower-alpha 4]	G	Cincinnati Royals	75	3421	45.61	[12]
1965–66	Wilt Chamberlain* (6)	C	Philadelphia 76ers	79	3737	47.30	[10]
1966–67	Wilt Chamberlain* (7)	C	Philadelphia 76ers	81	3682	45.46	[10]
1967–68	Wilt Chamberlain* (8)	C	Philadelphia 76ers	82	3836	46.78	[10]
1968–69	Wilt Chamberlain* (9)[lower-alpha 5]	C	Los Angeles Lakers	81	3669	45.30	[10]
1969–70	Elvin Hayes*	F/C	San Diego Rockets	82	3665	44.70	[13]
1970–71	John Havlicek*	F/G	Boston Celtics	81	3678	45.41	[14]
1971–72	John Havlicek* (2)	F/G	Boston Celtics	82	3698	45.10	[14]
1972–73	Nate "Tiny" Archibald*	G	Kansas City–Omaha Kings	80	3681	46.01	[15]
1973–74	Elvin Hayes* (2)	F/C	Capital Bullets	82	3665	44.47	[13]
1974–75	Bob McAdoo*	C/F	Buffalo Braves	82	3539	43.16	[16]
1975–76	Bob McAdoo* (2)[lower-alpha 6]	C/F	Buffalo Braves	78	3328	42.67	[16]
1976–77	Pete Maravich*[lower-alpha 7]	G	New Orleans Jazz	73	3041	41.66	[17]
1977–78	Truck Robinson	F/C	New Orleans Jazz	82	3638	44.37	[18]
1978–79	Moses Malone*	C/F	Houston Rockets	82	3390	41.34	[19]
1979–80	Norm Nixon	G	Los Angeles Lakers	82	3226	39.34	[20]
1980–81	Adrian Dantley*	F/C	Utah Jazz	80	3417	42.71	[21]
1981–82	Moses Malone* (2)	C/F	Houston Rockets	81	3398	41.95	[19]
1982–83	Kelly Tripucka[lower-alpha 8]	F/G	Detroit Pistons	58	2252	38.83	[22]
1983–84	Jeff Ruland	C/F	Washington Bullets	75	3082	41.09	[23]
1984–85	Larry Bird*[lower-alpha 9]	F	Boston Celtics	80	3161	39.51	[24]
1985–86	Maurice Cheeks*	G	Philadelphia 76ers	82	3270	39.88	[25]
1986–87	Larry Bird* (2)[lower-alpha 10]	F	Boston Celtics	74	3005	40.61	[24]
1987–88	Michael Jordan*	G	Chicago Bulls	82	3311	40.38	[26]
1988–89	Michael Jordan* (2)	G	Chicago Bulls	81	3255	40.19	[26]
1989–90	Rodney McCray	F/G	Sacramento Kings	82	3238	39.49	[27]
1990–91	Chris Mullin*	F/G	Golden State Warriors	82	3315	40.43	[28]
1991–92	Chris Mullin* (2)	F/G	Golden State Warriors	81	3346	41.31	[28]
1992–93	Larry Johnson	F	Charlotte Hornets	82	3323	40.52	[29]
1993–94	Latrell Sprewell	G	Golden State Warriors	82	3533	43.09	[30]
1994–95	Vin Baker	F	Milwaukee Bucks	82	3361	40.99	[31]
1995–96	Anthony Mason	F	New York Knicks	82	3457	42.16	[32]
1996–97	Anthony Mason (2)[lower-alpha 11]	F	Charlotte Hornets	73	3143	43.05	[32]
1997–98	Michael Finley	G/F	Dallas Mavericks	82	3394	41.39	[33]
1998–99[lower-alpha 12]	Allen Iverson*[lower-alpha 13]	G	Philadelphia 76ers	48	1990	41.46	[35]
1999–00	Michael Finley (2)	G/F	Dallas Mavericks	82	3464	42.24	[33]
2000–01	Michael Finley (3)	G/F	Dallas Mavericks	82	3443	41.99	[33]
2001–02	Allen Iverson* (2)[lower-alpha 14]	G	Philadelphia 76ers	60	2622	43.70	[35]
2002–03	Allen Iverson* (3)	G	Philadelphia 76ers	82	3485	42.50	[35]
2003–04	Allen Iverson* (4)[lower-alpha 15]	G	Philadelphia 76ers	48	2040	42.50	[35]
2004–05	LeBron James^	F	Cleveland Cavaliers	80	3388	42.35	[36]
2005–06	Allen Iverson* (5)[lower-alpha 16]	G	Philadelphia 76ers	72	3103	43.10	[35]
2006–07	Allen Iverson* (6)[lower-alpha 17]	G	Philadelphia 76ers/Denver Nuggets	65	2761	42.48	[35]
2007–08	Allen Iverson* (7)	G	Denver Nuggets	82	3424	41.76	[35]
2008–09	Andre Iguodala†	F/G	Philadelphia 76ers	82	3269	39.87	[37]
2009–10	Monta Ellis [lower-alpha 18]	G	Golden State Warriors	64	2647	41.36	[38]
2010–11	Monta Ellis (2)	G	Golden State Warriors	80	3227	40.34	[38]
2011–12[lower-alpha 19]	Luol Deng [lower-alpha 20]	F	Chicago Bulls	54	2129	39.43	[40]
2012–13	Luol Deng (2)[lower-alpha 21]	F	Chicago Bulls	75	2903	38.71	[40]
2013–14	Carmelo Anthony† [lower-alpha 22]	F	New York Knicks	77	2982	38.73	[41]
2014–15	Jimmy Butler^ [lower-alpha 23]	G/F	Chicago Bulls	65	2513	38.66	[42]
2015–16	James Harden^	G	Houston Rockets	82	3125	38.11	[43]
2016–17	LeBron James^ (2)[lower-alpha 24]	F	Cleveland Cavaliers	74	2794	37.76	[36]
2017–18	LeBron James^ (3)	F	Cleveland Cavaliers	82	3026	36.90	[36]
2018–19	Bradley Beal^	G	Washington Wizards	82	3028	36.93	[44]
2019–20	Damian Lillard^	G	Portland Trail Blazers	66	2474	37.48	[45]
2020–21	Julius Randle^	F	New York Knicks	71	2667	37.56	[46]
2021–22	Pascal Siakam^	F/C	Toronto Raptors	68	2578	37.91	[47]
2022–23	Pascal Siakam^ (2)	F/C	Toronto Raptors	71	2652	37.40	[47]
2023–24	DeMar DeRozan^	F	Chicago Bulls	79	2989	37.84	[48]

Multiple-time leaders

Rank	Player	Team	Times as leader	Years
1	Wilt Chamberlain	Philadelphia Warriors/San Francisco Warriors (5), Philadelphia 76ers (3), Los Angeles Lakers (1)	9	1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
2	Allen Iverson	Philadelphia 76ers (5) / Philadelphia 76ers/Denver Nuggets (1) / Denver Nuggets (1)	7	1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
3	Michael Finley LeBron James	Dallas Mavericks Cleveland Cavaliers	3	1998, 2000, 2001 2005, 2017, 2018
4	Paul Arizin Larry Bird Luol Deng Monta Ellis John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Neil Johnston Michael Jordan Moses Malone Anthony Mason Bob McAdoo Chris Mullin Dolph Schayes Pascal Siakam	Philadelphia Warriors Boston Celtics Chicago Bulls Golden State Warriors Boston Celtics San Diego Rockets (1) / Capital Bullets (1) Philadelphia Warriors Chicago Bulls Houston Rockets New York Knicks (1) / Charlotte Hornets (1) Buffalo Braves Golden State Warriors Syracuse Nationals Toronto Raptors	2	1952, 1955 1985, 1987 2012, 2013 2010, 2011 1971, 1972 1970, 1974 1953, 1954 1988, 1989 1979, 1982 1996, 1997 1975, 1976 1991, 1992 1957, 1958 2022, 2023

Notes

1. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
2. The player's primary position is listed first.
3. In the 1959–60 season, Gene Shue tied Chamberlain for the highest minute total (3338)^[8] but was second in minute average (44.51).^[9]
4. In the 1964–65 season, Bill Russell had the highest minute total (3466)^[8] but was third in minute average (44.44) behind Robertson and Chamberlain (45.22).^[9] Robertson was second in total minutes (3421).^[11]
5. In the 1968–69 season, Elvin Hayes had the highest minute total (3695)^[8] but was third in minute average (45.06) behind Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond (45.18).^[9] Chamberlain was second in total minutes (3669).^[11]
6. In the 1975–76 season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the highest minute total (3379)^[8] but was second in minute average (41.21).^[9] McAdoo was second in total minutes (3328).^[11]
7. In the 1976–77 season, Elvin Hayes had the highest minute total (3364)^[8] but was second in minute average (41.02).^[9] Maravich was seventh in total minutes (3041) behind Hayes, Jo Jo White (3333), Rudy Tomjanovich (3130), Billy Knight (3117), Norm Van Lier (3097) and Randy Smith (3094).^[11]
8. In the 1982–83 season, Isiah Thomas had the highest minute total (3093)^[8] but was second in minute average (38.19).^[9] Tripucka was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
9. In the 1984–85 season, Buck Williams had the highest minute total (3182)^[8] but was third in minute average (38.80) behind Bird and Purvis Short (39.50).^[9] Bird was second in total minutes (3161).^[11]
10. In the 1986–87 season, Michael Jordan had the highest minute total (3281)^[8] but was third in minute average (40.01) behind Bird and Charles Barkley (40.29).^[9] Bird was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
11. In the 1996–97 season, Glen Rice had the highest minute total (3362)^[8] but was second in minute average (42.56).^[9] Mason was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
12. The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league's lockout.^[34] The qualification for this season's minutes leader was to appear in at least 43 games (out of 50) or to have at played least 1220 minutes.^[1]
13. In the 1998–99 season, Jason Kidd had the highest minute total (2060)^[8] but was second in minute average (41.20).^[9] Iverson (1990) was sixth in total minutes behind Kidd, Michael Finley (2051), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (2021), Scottie Pippen (2011) and Gary Payton (2008).^[11]
14. In the 2001–02 season, Antoine Walker had the highest minute total (3406)^[8] but was third in minute average (42.05) behind Iverson and Cuttino Mobley (42.11).^[9] Iverson was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
15. In the 2003–04 season, Joe Johnson had the highest minute total (3331)^[8] but was third in minute average (40.62) behind Iverson and Shawn Marion (40.72).^[9] Iverson was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
16. In the 2005–06 season, Gilbert Arenas had the highest minute total (3384)^[8] but was third in minute average (42.30) behind Iverson and LeBron James (42.54).^[9] Iverson was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
17. In the 2006–07 season, LeBron James had the highest minute total (3190)^[8] but was third in minute average (40.90) behind Iverson and Joe Johnson (41.39).^[9] Iverson was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
18. In the 2009–10 season, Kevin Durant had the highest minute total (3239)^[8] but was fourth in minute average (39.50) behind Ellis, Gerald Wallace (41.04) and Rudy Gay (39.69).^[9] Ellis was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
19. The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league's lockout.^[39] The qualification for this season's minutes leader was to appear in at least 56 games (out of 66) or to have at played least 1610 minutes.^[1]
20. In the 2011–12 season, Kevin Durant had the highest minute total (2546)^[8] but was third in minute average (38.58) behind Deng and Kevin Love (39.00).^[9] Deng was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
21. In the 2012–13 season, Damian Lillard had the highest minute total (3166)^[8] but was third in minute average (38.61) behind Deng and Kobe Bryant (38.63).^[9] Deng was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
22. In the 2013–14 season, Kevin Durant had the highest minute total (3122)^[8] but was third in minute average (38.54) behind Anthony and Jimmy Butler (38.67).^[9] Anthony was fourth in total minutes (2982) behind Durant, Monta Ellis (3023) and DeMar DeRozan (3017).^[11]
23. In the 2014–15 season, James Harden had the highest minute total (2981)^[8] but was second in minute average (36.80).^[9] Butler was not among the top ten in total minutes.^[11]
24. In the 2016–17 season, Andrew Wiggins had the highest minute total (3048)^[8] but was third in minute average (37.17) behind James and Kyle Lowry (37.40).^[9] James was tenth in total minutes (2794) behind Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns (3030), James Harden (2947), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2845), John Wall (2836), Jimmy Butler (2809), Harrison Barnes (2803), Russell Westbrook (2802) and CJ McCollum (2796).^[11]

See also

• NBA records
• List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual field goal percentage leaders

References

General

• "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Minutes Per Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
• "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Minutes Played". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.

Specific

1. "Rate Statistic Requirements". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
2. "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Minutes Per Game". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
3. "Paul Arizin". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
4. "Neil Johnston". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
5. "Jack George". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
6. "Dolph Schayes". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
7. "Bill Russell". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
8. "NBA & ABA Yearly Leaders and Records for Minutes Played". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
9. "NBA & ABA Yearly Top 10 Leaders and Records for Minutes Per Game". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
10. "Wilt Chamberlain". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
11. "NBA & ABA Yearly Top 10 Leaders and Records for Minutes Played". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
12. "Oscar Robertson". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
13. "Elvin Hayes". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
14. "John Havlicek". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
15. "Tiny Archibald". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
16. "Bob McAdoo". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
17. "Pete Maravich". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
18. "Truck Robinson". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
19. "Moses Malone". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
20. "Norm Nixon". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
21. "Adrian Dantley". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
22. "Kelly Tripucka". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
23. "Jeff Ruland". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
24. "Larry Bird". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
25. "Maurice Cheeks". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
26. "Michael Jordan". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
27. "Rodney McCray". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
28. "Chris Mullin". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
29. "Larry Johnson". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
30. "Latrell Sprewell". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
31. "Vin Baker". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
32. "Anthony Mason". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
33. "Michael Finley". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
34. Beck, Howard (February 14, 2009). "N.B.A. and Union Are Discussing New Labor Deal". The New York Times Company. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
35. "Allen Iverson". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
36. "LeBron James". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
37. "Andre Iguodala". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
38. "Monta Ellis". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
39. Beck, Howard (November 28, 2011). "Two Exhibition Games for N.B.A. Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
40. "Luol Deng". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
41. "Carmelo Anthony". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
42. "Jimmy Butler". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
43. "James Harden". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
44. "Bradley Beal". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
45. "Damian Lillard". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
46. "Julius Randle". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
47. "Pascal Siakam Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
48. "DeMar DeRozan Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024.