NBA All-Stamina Team: 6 Players Who Can Run All Day
It takes a hearty amount of stamina in order to hold it down as a successful NBA player. Diving into a slate of 82 regular-season games and a possible series of postseason battles can wear you down.
Not everyone is built to last. Extensive minutes can evaporate a player's body. However, some guys are able to defy logic and play at a high level all season long.
Sifting through all of the NBA's statistical logs, we wanted to create an "All-Stamina" team. In order to properly do that, we combined total minutes played, average minutes per game and a player's production. The result is a team that is dominant and durable.
Point Guard: Kyle Lowry
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Kyle Lowry's 36.8 minutes per game are the most among starting point guards in the NBA. He's an ironman when it comes to the position.
When you factor in that the Toronto Raptors guard has also averaged 21.3 points, 6.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game, he jumps off the page as a clear choice for this fictitious squad.
No matter how many minutes he's logging on the hardwood, Lowry is one guy who will always get it done.
Shooting Guard: James Harden
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James Harden has logged 2,054 total minutes this season, highest in the world of professional basketball.
Considering he happens to be a superstar, Harden's workload is even more impressive. The six-year veteran has taken that time to post 28.0 pointsโgood for second in the leagueโ7.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds a contest.
The combination of having a well-rounded, MVP-type season and spending imperishable minutes trying to keep your team's postseason dreams alive is enough to warrant Harden's spot on the "All-Stamina" team.
Small Forward: LeBron James
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King James is the de facto ironman in today's NBA. Dating back to his rookie season, James has averaged 39.1 minutes per game.
Adding up those totals over 13 seasons is a ridiculous look into his career. It drives home the point that James is a complete workhorse and an all-time conqueror of the hardwood.
The 2015-16 NBA season hasn't been that different than years past. James has been out there every night, posting an average of 35.9 minutes. He's added to that total by racking up 25.0 points, 6.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Now that the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently atop the NBA's Eastern Conference, James' numbers should stay around that total for the year. But based on the past, he's likely going to crank those digits upโJames averaged 42.2 minutes per contest during last season's playoffs.
Power Forward: Anthony Davis
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Oh how nice it is to be young. New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis slides right into the power forward position on the "All-Stamina" team thanks to his youth and talent.
Davis' 35.4 minutes per game rank him No. 15 in the NBA and first amongst all power forwards.
Per the rest of this list, his production follows suit.ย When you're able to punish opposing defenders to the tune of 23.4 points, 10.0 boards and 2.2 blocks on a nightly basis, you're doing something right.
This season may not be the leap we were hoping to see Davis make, but that doesn't mean he's fallen off the grid.ย There aren't many players out there you'd want to build a team around more than Davis.
Center: Andre Drummond
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Andre Drummond's sustained level of growth this season has been a relief for the Detroit Pistons. The 6'11" center has increased his output in points from 13.8 last year to 17.0 in 2016.
In addition, he's also upped his minutes. Drummond is currently sitting at 33.7 a game. The previous season, he nabbed only 30.5.
When production goes up, good minutes tend to follow. In Drummond's case, that spike in production couldn't have come at a better time. The Pistons are fighting for a playoff spot, and he's become the main component to their success.
He's a complete center that rarely sits on the bench. Not a bad problem to have if you're a general manager.
Sixth Man: Jimmy Butler
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Picking a sixth man to complete our "All-Stamina" team wasn't easy. There were a host of directions we could have gone in.
However, after careful consideration, we landed on Chicago Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler. The fourth-year pro made a case for himself thanks to a healthy 37.9 minutes per game, which leads the NBA.
When you throw his production into a blender and flip the switch, what comes out the other end is a complete, all-around ace. Butler has done it all, collecting 22.4 points, 4.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds each night.
It's a shame that he's going to miss three to four weeks with a knee injury. But that doesn't diminish his ability and stamina. When he's healthy, Butler belongs on this imaginative team.ย
All stats and information via Basketball-Reference.com, unless noted otherwise.
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