NBA Players Union Calls for Changes to 65-Game Award Eligibility Rule
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is pushing for changes to the NBA’s 65-game rule, which dictates eligibility for complete-of-season awards. The call for reform comes after Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for individual honors due to a collapsed lung, an injury that will sideline him for an extended period.
The 65-game rule, implemented before the 2023-24 season as part of the current collective bargaining agreement, requires players to participate in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible for awards such as Most Valuable Player (MVP), Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, and All-NBA teams ESPN.
Cunningham’s Case Highlights the Issue
Cunningham, who has played in 61 games this season, suffered a collapsed lung on March 17th during a game against the Washington Wizards ESPN. His agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, argued that an exception should be made, stating, “Cade has delivered a first-team All-NBA season. If he falls just short of an arbitrary games-played threshold due to legitimate injury, it should not disqualify him from recognition he has clearly earned over the course of the season. The league should be rewarding excellence, not enforcing rigid cutoffs that ignore context. An exception needs to be made.” ESPN.
The NBPA echoed this sentiment, stating that Cunningham’s potential ineligibility “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.” Yahoo Sports.
Other Players Potentially Affected
Cunningham is not the only star potentially impacted by the 65-game rule. Several other high-profile players are at risk of falling short of the requirement:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder): 60 games played with 10 remaining.
- Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers): 60 games played with 10 remaining.
- Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets): 56 games played with 10 remaining.
- Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs): Needs to play in eight of the Spurs’ final 10 games.
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves): 58 games played, currently injured.
- Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers): 61 games played.
- Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers): 56 games played.
These players, all contenders for major awards, face a difficult choice between resting and potentially jeopardizing their award eligibility The Athletic.
Rule Origins and Potential Changes
The 65-game rule was negotiated between the NBA and the NBPA as part of the 2023 collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2029-30 season The Athletic. Although the CBA allows for an exception for players who have played at least 62 games before suffering a season-ending injury, Cunningham does not meet this criteria The Athletic.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to address the issue after Wednesday’s Board of Governors meeting The Athletic. Any changes to the rule would require agreement between the league owners and the NBPA.