No player in the SLB has spent more time on court this season than Kino Lilly Jr. Surrey have leaned on him more than anyone else in the league, not just because of his shooting, but because he can shift between roles as the game changes. That has kept him on the floor all season, even when it has pulled him away from where he is most valuable.
Minutes Leader
The league-wide minutes table shows how heavily Surrey have leaned on Lilly this season.
| Player | Minutes Played | Games Played |
|---|---|---|
| Kino Lilly Jr | 1091.7 | 32 |
| Maceo Jack | 1002.1 | 32 |
| Isiah Small | 973.4 | 32 |
| Cole Long | 947.2 | 32 |
| Jaxon Brenchley | 927.5 | 35 |
| Zach Anderson | 906.0 | 31 |
| LaQuincy Rideau | 905.0 | 35 |
| Dirk Williams | 899.6 | 28 |
| Ray’sean Taylor | 892.6 | 31 |
| Joe Anderson | 885.3 | 29 |
Coaches do not keep players on the floor for this long unless they trust them, and they do not keep pushing those minutes unless the player is central to how the team works. Lilly’s place at the top of the table is a sign of both.
Shooting Threat
Lilly’s clearest offensive skill is his three-point shooting. He has been one of the most dangerous perimeter threats in the SLB this season.
* Only players who have taken more than 10 three-point attempts are included
He sits in the top-right corner of the chart: high volume and high efficiency. He is the kind of player defenders have to stay attached to, which makes help harder and opens the floor around him. Teams know he is a three-point threat, and they still have not been able to take that away.
A Role That Shifts
Surrey have needed enough from Lilly on the ball that they have not always been able to use him purely off the ball, where he does his best work. When they need another ball-handler, he can settle possessions and help organise the offence. When Surrey have more creation on the floor, he can shift off the ball, where his shooting stretches the floor and punishes help.
That flexibility is a big part of why his minutes stay so high. It also explains the trade-off in his season: it keeps him on the floor, even when it pulls him away from the role where he is most valuable.
Every Night
Lilly is one of only four Surrey players to have appeared in all 32 games so far this season.
| Player | Games Played |
|---|---|
| Kino Lilly Jr | 32 |
| Isiah Small | 32 |
| Nedas Cholevinskas | 32 |
| Tayo Ogedengbe | 32 |
Lilly has been there every night, giving Surrey a constant they have been able to lean on. The role changes with the rotation, but the reliance never does. He has been the player they keep turning back to, whether they need shooting, creation or both.
Why He Stays On
Kino Lilly Jr has been the SLB’s minutes leader because Surrey have needed both his shooting and his ability to handle the ball. That has kept him on the floor, but it has also sometimes meant doing more than just scoring.
The signing of RJ Eytle-Rock is a potential release valve. He gives Surrey another creator who can take on some of that ball-handling, which could free Lilly up to spend more time off the ball, where he is most dangerous.
