Not every award presented at the conclusion of the NBA season carries the same level of prestige as accolades like Most Valuable Player or Defensive Player of the Year.
A perfect example is Josh Hart. The New York Knicks guard recently received the league`s `minutes champion` award and, in his characteristic witty style, appeared more amused by the trophy than genuinely honored by the distinction.
Sharing a photograph of the award on his Instagram story, Hart wrote the caption, `Minutes champion?` followed by laughing emojis. He playfully added, `Guess I got my cardio in this year.`
(Caption shared by Josh Hart on Instagram)
According to data from NBA.com, Hart played the most minutes of any player across the league this season, averaging 37.6 per game under the guidance of Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, known for his demanding rotations.
Hart is the first player from the Knicks franchise to lead the NBA in minutes played since Julius Randle achieved the same feat in the 2020-21 season, also with an average of 37.6 minutes. While Hart`s career average stands at 30.4 minutes, his playing time has seen a significant increase, particularly in the current playoff series against the Boston Celtics, where he has averaged 37.25 minutes through the initial four games.
