Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham
NBA awards eligibility tracker: Updated games played for Cade Cunningham, SGA, other stars up for honors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The NBA’s 65-game rule has its share of critics, but for now, it isn’t going anywhere. Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and other stars will need to play at least 65 games to be eligible for awards such as MVP and All-NBA honors.
With all three missing time this season, it could be a close call for each.
The 65-game rule didn’t heavily impact the MVP race in either of its first two seasons after being implemented as part of the new collective bargaining agreement in 2023, but it could, at the very least, prevent Cunningham from earning All-NBA honors in a season that has seen him emerge as a legitimate MVP candidate.
The NBPA has already called for the rule to be changed, saying in a statement, “Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and yet another example of why it must be abolished or reformed to create an exception for significant injuries.”
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While there is a minor exception for season-ending injuries, Cunningham doesn’t meet it. Neither does Anthony Edwards, who saw his chances of hitting the 65-game mark vanish after he was ruled out of the Timberwolves’ April 2 tilt vs. the Pistons with illness.
Luka Doncic still might be eligible for season-long awards despite being shut down for the regular season on Friday with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Doncic and his representatives are reportedly applying for a extraordinary circumstances grievance due to his two games missed for the birth of his son earlier in the season.
The Sporting News is tracking the award eligibility for some of the NBA’s stars, including Cunningham, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. Follow along below with each player’s games played count.
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NBA awards eligibility tracker
With Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic both back on the court after dealing with injuries, each has a path to 65 games. MVP favorite Gilgeous-Alexander is set to clear the bar with some wiggle room, while Jokic can only miss one more game if he wants to be eligible for awards.
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Cunningham, however, is in a different boat. While he has played 61 games, he is out with a collapsed lung and isn’t sure when he will play again. 76ers star Tyrese Maxey has returned from a finger injury, but was close to not qualifying and is two games short. While Maxey isn’t in MVP contention, an All-NBA spot could be on the line.
Edwards is officially unable to add to his collection of All-NBA placements after being ruled out of Minnesota’s game vs. Detroit with illness.
Victor Wembamyama left the Spurs’ Apr. 7 win over the 76ers after 16 minutes. He will need to log just one more game with 20-plus minutes this season to qualify for awards.
Here are the latest games played totals for notable award and All-NBA contenders:
|
Player |
Games played |
Remaining games |
|
Tyrese Maxey |
67 |
3 |
|
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
66 |
4 |
|
Cooper Flagg |
66 |
4 |
|
Luka Doncic |
64 |
4 |
|
Nikola Jokic |
63 |
3 |
|
Victor Wembanyama |
63 |
3 |
|
Evan Mobley |
62 |
4 |
|
Deni Avdija |
63 |
3 |
|
Cade Cunningham |
61 |
3 |
|
Kawhi Leonard |
61 |
5 |
|
Anthony Edwards |
60 |
3 |
An exception to the 65-game rule allows players to retain award eligibility if they suffer a season-ending injury with at least 62 games played, but that doesn’t apply to Cunningham, even if he can’t return, as they have each played only 61 games.
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NBA 65-game rule, explained
Starting with the 2023-24 season, NBA rules state that players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player awards, as well as All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams. The rule doesn’t apply to the Rookie of the Year or Sixth Man of the Year awards.
The rule was agreed upon in the league’s current collective bargaining agreement to help combat the trend of “load management,” in which teams rested players to either keep them fresh or nurse minor ailments.
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Despite the rule, stars continue to miss games. As of March 25, only two of the NBA’s 45 20-point-per-game scorers rank among the top 25 in games played: Minnesota’s Julius Randle and Orlando’s Desmond Bane.