# 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).
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.
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 | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA |
| * | * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| † | † | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration |
| § | § | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 |
| Player (X) | Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the minutes leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the minutes leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the minutes leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the minutes leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the minutes leader up to and including that season |
| G | Guard | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center |

## Annual leaders

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

## 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 |