Not every award given by the NBA at the end of the season holds the same significance as prestigious honors like Most Valuable Player or Defensive Player of the Year.
This point was highlighted by Josh Hart, the New York Knicks guard, upon receiving his `minutes champion` award on Tuesday. Known for his humorous personality, Hart appeared more entertained by the recognition than deeply honored by it.
Sharing a picture of the trophy on his Instagram story, Hart added the caption, “Minutes champion?” accompanied by laughing emojis. He humorously remarked, “Guess I got my cardio in this year,” acknowledging the extensive playing time.
According to NBA.com, Hart played an average of 37.6 minutes per game this season under Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, leading the league in this category.
He is the first player for the Knicks to lead the NBA in minutes played since Julius Randle did so during the 2020-21 season, also averaging 37.6 minutes per game.
Over his career, Hart has averaged 30.4 minutes per contest. In the first four games of New York`s current playoff series against the Boston Celtics, his average has been even higher, at 37.25 minutes per game.