Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard Clear 65-Game Hurdle; Nikola Jokic Still One Appearance Shy
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San Antonio Spurs rookie center Victor Wembanyama secured postseason award eligibility on Friday by logging 26 minutes in a home victory over the Dallas Mavericks, his first game back after missing one contest with a rib contusion.
The NBA’s 65-game rule requires players to reach either 65 appearances of 20-plus minutes or a combination of qualifiers that include games of at least 15 minutes and the in-season tournament final. Wembanyama now has 62 games of 20 minutes, two games between 15 and 20 minutes, and 25 minutes played in December’s NBA Cup final, satisfying the league’s standard.
“I tried to protect (the rib) as much as possible while still being respectful of the game,” Wembanyama said after recording 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. With the Spurs locked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, he acknowledged that the appearance was primarily driven by the new rule.
Through 81 games, San Antonio owns a 62-19 record. Wembanyama is averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and an NBA-best 3.1 blocks, positioning him as the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, a likely first-team All-NBA spot and a candidate on Most Valuable Player ballots.
Nikola Jokic Needs One More Game
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic sat out Friday’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder for right wrist injury management, leaving him at 64 qualifying games. He must play at least 20 minutes in Sunday’s regular-season finale in San Antonio to become award-eligible. Interim head coach David Adelman said the organization will hold “an adult conversation” before tip-off to weigh the 65-game requirement against postseason health priorities.
A Spurs win Sunday, coupled with a Los Angeles Lakers victory over Utah, would drop Denver to the No. 4 seed and place the Lakers—rather than the Nuggets—on San Antonio’s side of the playoff bracket.
Additional Players Reach the Threshold
- Kawhi Leonard tallied his 65th appearance by playing 37 minutes in the Los Angeles Clippers’ loss to Portland, making the forward eligible for All-NBA consideration.
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers), Ausar Thompson (Pistons) and Draymond Green (Warriors) each became award-eligible Friday after meeting the 65-game standard, bolstering their All-Defensive candidacies.
- Luguentz Dort (Thunder) narrowly exceeded 20 minutes Friday and must repeat that on Sunday to stay eligible.
- Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers) needs at least 15 minutes Sunday to qualify; he is expected to draw votes for All-NBA and Most Improved Player if he meets the mark.
The final day of the regular season will determine whether Jokic and several others ultimately meet the league’s award criteria.
Source: Hoops Rumors
