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There used to be a time when players took pride in playing almost every minute in every game. Right from the tip-off, players would clock over 42 minutes a game and for a lot of games. Nowadays the trend has changed as load management has come into the fray and with the players being more injury-prone, players tend to take minutes off in games.
There are still top players who are forced to clock a ridiculous amount of minutes in matchups mainly due to their side needing them on the floor. The likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James clock a just little over 30 and 34 minutes per game respectively mainly due to the abundance of talent in their squads.
Here we look at the five players who have clocked the most minutes per game this season so far.
Note: Only stats for games played till 24th February 2020 have been considered
#5 CJ McCollum - 35.9 minutes per game
So far this term, CJ McCollum has played 35.9 minutes per game for the Portland Trail Blazers. He is averaging 21.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists this campaign while shooting nearly 39% from the range.
McCollum has struggled in patches this season and it's been apparent with the Trail Blazers languishing in the ninth spot in the Western Conference. However, they still remain in the playoff hunt as they are only three games behind the Memphis Grizzlies.
McCollum's offensive bursts this season have been valuable for Portland while his defense remains a mystery. The guard has stepped up when needed especially in the absence of superstar Damian Lillard. He remains a genuine threat from beyond the arc and the Blazers will need him to contribute big time if they are to make the playoffs.
#4 Russell Westbrook - 36 minutes per game
Russell Westbrook has been leading the charge for the Houston Rockets during the slump suffered by James Harden. He's averaging 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and, 7.2 assists this season while shooting nearly 47% from the field. His shooting from range continues to be his Achilles heel.
Westbrook averaged over 30 points in January and was awarded an All-Star selection this campaign. The guard went over 20,000 points this season and Houston will need him firing on all cylinders if they are to make a deep run in the playoffs especially with Harden slowly regaining his early-season form.
#3 Kyle Lowry - 36.3 minutes per game
With the departure of Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors had a huge void to fill and Kyle Lowry stepped up to the task big time. Lowry is leading the way for the Raptors, averaging 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists this season while shooting nearly 36% from range.
Lowry's decision making, skillset and his willingness to battle it out separate him from the rest of the pack. He's the leader on the court for the Toronto based side and it has translated into their performances as the franchise is second in the Eastern Conference with a 42-15 record.
Despite being miniature in size, Lowry continues to contribute on both the ends of the floor at a high level. His game from the perimeter has never been questioned and he continues to comes up clutch for the side.
#2 James Harden - 36.9 minutes per game
James Harden is apparently in a slump. He is, however, averaging 35.3 points, 7.4 assists and, 6.4 rebounds this season while shooting nearly 36% from the range which is a testament to what a great start he had to the season. Harden continues to cement his status as one of the greatest scorers of all time the game has ever seen. He is playing 36.9 minutes per game with the Houston Rockets offense running through him.
The sheer workload given to Harden is one of the reasons why he has struggled in the postseason in the past. The offensive system run by Mike D'Antoni completely relies on Harden having a great game and is one of the reasons for their past failures.
The Houston Rockets should be looking to take some workload of Harden and will need him and Russell Westbrook fit and firing for the playoffs if they are to make a deep run in the postseason.
#1 Damian Lillard - 37 minutes per game
Damian Lillard has been a one-man wrecking crew this season. Leading the way for the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard is averaging 29.5 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds this term while shooting 39.3% from the perimeter.
The guard has been absolutely lighting up the NBA with outrageous performances for the Trail Blazers and continues to be one of the deadliest marksmen in the league. He had a four-game streak in which he was averaging over 50 points per game.
Lillard is attempting more three-pointers this term than before and is still managing to shoot at a very efficient rate of 39.3%. Unfortunately, he suffered a groin injury just before the All-Star Weekend and has remained on the sidelines since.
