NBA’s 65-Game Rule: A Controversial Hurdle for Star Players
The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) contentious 65-game eligibility rule continues to be a hot topic of discussion, sparking debate among players, fans, and analysts alike. Despite facing considerable criticism, the policy, which mandates that players must participate in at least 65 games to qualify for major individual awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) and All-NBA selections, shows no signs of being rescinded in the immediate future. This season, several prominent stars, including Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic, are finding themselves in a nail-biting race against the clock to meet the threshold, with their season-long injury battles potentially jeopardising their chances at post-season accolades.
While the 65-game rule did not significantly alter the MVP landscape in its inaugural two seasons following its implementation as part of the 2023 collective bargaining agreement, its impact this year could be more pronounced. For players like Cade Cunningham, the rule poses a significant threat to his potential All-NBA recognition, particularly in a season where he has emerged as a genuine MVP contender.
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has been vocal in its opposition to the rule, urging for its reform. In a statement, the NBPA highlighted the potential ineligibility of players like Cade Cunningham for postseason awards, even after having career-defining seasons. They argue that this situation clearly indicts the 65-game rule and underscores the urgent need for its abolition or amendment to include exceptions for significant injuries that are not season-ending. Currently, the rule offers a limited exception for players who suffer season-ending injuries, provided they have played a substantial number of games. However, Cunningham’s situation, for instance, does not meet these criteria.
The Sporting News is diligently tracking the award eligibility of several of the NBA’s top stars, including Cunningham, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jokic. Below is a breakdown of their games played and remaining opportunities to meet the 65-game requirement.
Navigating the 65-Game Threshold: Key Players and Their Status
As of the latest updates, both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic have returned to the court after periods of absence due to injuries, putting them back on a path to meeting the 65-game minimum. Gilgeous-Alexander, a frontrunner for the MVP award, is expected to comfortably surpass the mark with some room to spare. Jokic, while also in a strong position, has a narrower margin for error, able to miss only one more game to remain eligible for awards.
Cade Cunningham, however, finds himself in a more precarious situation. Despite having played 61 games, he is currently sidelined with a collapsed lung and his return date remains uncertain. Similarly, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers is also grappling with a finger injury, having played 61 games. While Maxey is not considered an MVP candidate, his potential ineligibility for All-NBA honours due to the 65-game rule is a significant concern.
Here’s a look at the current games played and remaining games for notable award and All-NBA contenders:
- Tyrese Maxey
- Games played: 62
- Remaining games: 8
- Cade Cunningham
- Games played: 61
- Remaining games: 8
- Luka Doncic
- Games played: 62
- Remaining games: 8
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Games played: 62
- Remaining games: 8
- Cooper Flagg
- Games played: 62
- Remaining games: 8
- Anthony Edwards
- Games played: 58
- Remaining games: 8
- Nikola Jokic
- Games played: 59
- Remaining games: 7
- Victor Wembanyama
- Games played: 59
- Remaining games: 8
- Evan Mobley
- Games played: 59
- Remaining games: 8
- Deni Avdija
- Games played: 59
- Remaining games: 7
- Kawhi Leonard
- Games played: 58
- Remaining games: 8
It’s important to note that the exception allowing award eligibility for players with season-ending injuries requires them to have played at least 62 games. This stipulation means that neither Maxey nor Cunningham, even if they are unable to return to the court this season, will qualify for the exception, as they have each played only 61 games.
Understanding the NBA’s 65-Game Rule
The NBA’s 65-game rule, which came into effect at the start of the 2023-24 season, mandates that players must participate in a minimum of 65 regular-season games to be considered eligible for prestigious awards. These include the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), and Most Improved Player (MIP) awards, as well as selection to the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. Notably, the rule does not extend to the Rookie of the Year or Sixth Man of the Year awards, which have different qualification criteria.
The league introduced this rule as part of its current collective bargaining agreement with the primary objective of curbing the growing trend of “load management.” This practice, where teams strategically rest their star players to manage fatigue or minor injuries, has been a point of contention for fans and has been seen by the league as detrimental to the integrity of the game and the fan experience.
Despite the implementation of the 65-game rule, the issue of star players missing games persists. As of March 25th, a significant majority of the NBA’s top scorers are not among the players with the most games played. Out of the 45 players averaging 20 points or more per game, only two, Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Desmond Bane of the Orlando Magic, rank within the top 25 in games played. This statistic further fuels the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness and fairness of the 65-game eligibility threshold.
