Top 5 players with the highest minutes-per-game average in the 2020-21 NBA season

Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers stands with LeBron James #23 against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena on February 01, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

#3 Jerami Grant - 36.3 MPG

Jerami Grant has had a solid first NBA season with the Detroit Pistons. After signing a three-year, $60-million deal to play for Detroit, the former Denver Nuggets player is third in the NBA in minutes per game (36.3) and is a big candidate for the Most Improved Player award of the 2020-21 NBA campaign.

Grant is averaging a career-high in minutes per game and is taking full advantage of it.

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He is also posting career highs in points per game (24.3), rebounds per game (5.5), assists per game (3.0). three-pointers made per game, and 3P percentage (39.5%).

His NBA season-high in terms of minutes in a single game came on February 6th against the LA Lakers when he played 47 minutes. In a tough season for Detroit (6-18), Grant has been the team's brightest spot.

#2 Julius Randle - 36.8 MPG

Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks brings the ball up court against LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter of their game at Spectrum Center on January 11, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Julius Randle started the 2020-21 NBA season with a tremendous display of all-around ability on the basketball court. Though he's faded a bit, Randle is the leader of the New York Knicks and is leading the team close to postseason contention and is having the best year of his career.

Beyond the 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists he is putting up on a nightly basis, Randle is also second in the league in minutes per game at 36.8 (career-high).

He has played in each of the Knicks' (11-15) 26 games of the 2020-21 NBA campaign and his season-high in MPG came on December 29th against the Cleveland Cavaliers (44 minutes).

#1 James Harden - 38 MPG

The 2017-18 NBA MVP, James Harden, has had a crazy 2020-21 campaign. The year started with reports that he wanted to leave the Houston Rockets and lots of noise about his physical condition. He was finally traded to the Brooklyn Nets on January 13th and has played at his usual level in the current campaign.

In eight games with Houston and 13 with the Nets, Harden is averaging a league-high 38 minutes per night. In his eight appearances for Houston, he has averaged 36.3 MPG, while he is at 39 MPG for the Brooklyn Nets and Steve Nash.

Harden is averaging 23.9 points, a league-best 11 assists and seven rebounds per game this season. His PPG average is the lowest since he left the OKC Thunder in the 2012 offseason.

In terms of minutes played, his average of the 2020-21 NBA campaign is tied for the third-highest of his career. His season-high in minutes this season came against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 20th (a career-high 50 minutes), when the Nets and the Cavs played two overtime periods.