The National Basketball Players Association on Tuesday denounced the NBA’s current award-eligibility rule in the wake of Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung, an injury expected to keep him off the court for an extended period.
In a statement released March 24, 2026, the union said the rule — which ties individual honors to a minimum number of games played — “unfairly penalizes players who sustain serious injuries through no fault of their own.”
Cunningham was injured Monday night and was later diagnosed with a collapsed lung, according to the Pistons. His agent urged the league to create an “exception” that would allow injured players to remain eligible for postseason awards despite missing time.
The NBPA echoed that call, arguing that the policy should be revisited immediately. League officials had not responded publicly as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Source: New York Post
