NBA.com examines who's getting the most for the minutes
You know Allen Iverson scores, Ben Wallace rebounds and Jason Kidd dishes -- when they're on the floor, those guys put up big statistics, but as skilled and talented superstars, they also log big minutes every game. What about the specialists and role players, the players who may not get a ton of playing time but who excel at doing their jobs?
NBA.com takes a look at the five major statistical categories and compares the per-game leaders with the per-48-minutes leaders to see which players around the league are making the biggest contributions relative to the time they spend on the court.
* All stats through games of Tuesday, Dec. 10
Detroit guard Richard Hamilton is one of the league's pure scorers. Allen Einstein NBAE/Getty Images
Not too much variability here, which isn't a surprise; in the NBA, big scorers play big minutes. The Pistons' Richard Hamilton, though, shows that he makes the most of his time on the floor. While he ranks 22nd in the league at 20.2 points per game, he also averages only 31.5 minutes, compared to 39.4 for Tracy McGrady and 42.4 for Allen Iverson. Not coincidentally, Hamilton is also among the NBA's top 10 in field goals per 48 minutes (10.8; ninth) and free throws per 48 minutes (8.4; third).
In his final season, David Robinson is still grabbing rebounds. Jesse Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images
David Robinson may be 37 years old and playing in his final season, but he's still cleaning up the boards for San Antonio. Per game, he's averaging 9.8 rebounds -- ninth in the NBA -- but he's doing that in only 26.3 minutes, which puts him right up there with league leaders Ben Wallace and Brian Grant in terms of effectiveness while on the floor. And how about Indiana's Jeff Foster? Seeing only about 10 minutes each night backing up Jermaine O'Neal and Brad Miller, he still grabs 3.7 boards a game.
All-time assist king John Stockton continues to dish the ball. D. Clarke Evans NBAE/Getty Images
Speaking of old guys, John Stockton and Mark Jackson -- a combined 77 years of age with 37 years of NBA experience -- are splitting time at point guard in Utah and continuing to dish the ball as they have their entire careers. Together, they average 11.9 assists per game, helping the Jazz lead the league in assists as a team at 24.4 per game. And though Stockton plays only 27.0 minutes a night, he still drops 7.5 assists, tying him with Philadelphia's Eric Snow for eighth overall.
Adrian Griffin gives the Mavs some defensive intensity when he's in the game. David Liam Kyle NBAE/Getty Images
Touted as a defensive specialist since he entered the league, Adrian Griffin actually starts for the Mavs but plays fewer minutes (18.2) than anyone in the regular rotation except Raja Bell. However, he still leads the team in steals at 1.55 per game and dominates the league in steals per 48 minutes. Chicago's "The Mayor" Fred Hoiberg is a similar story; he ranks third among Bulls in steals (1.16 per game), though he plays about half the minutes of Jay Williams (1.52 spg) and Donyell Marshall (1.33 spg).
The Warriors have an enforcer under the basket in Adonal Foyle. Joe Murphy NBAE/Getty Images
Golden State center Adonal Foyle doesn't start, plays fewer than 20 minutes per game (19.2) and at only 6-10, is a bit undersized for his position. Yet he is a shot-blocking machine for the Warriors. Not only does lead the league in blocks per 48 minutes, he also ranks seventh in blocks per game (2.38) and eighth in total blocks (50). In Cleveland, big DeSagana Diop has come along slowly since being drafted out of high school in 2001, but has shown he can defend the basket, averaging 1.24 blocks in just 11.9 minutes.
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