NBPA Urges NBA to Scrap or Modify 65-Game Eligibility Rule
SLUG: nbpa-urges-nba-to-scrap-or-modify-65-game-eligibility-rule
CONTENT:
The National Basketball Players Association on Tuesday called on the NBA to either eliminate or overhaul the league’s 65-game minimum for end-of-season awards, citing the possibility that several high-profile players could be excluded from honors despite injury-related absences.
“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,” an NBPA spokesperson said in a statement relayed by Associated Press reporter Tim Reynolds.
Cunningham, the Detroit Pistons guard, has appeared in 61 games but was diagnosed last week with a collapsed lung that could sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. The rule requires 65 appearances of at least 20 minutes each, though players may count up to two games in which they logged between 15 and 20 minutes. Because Cunningham played only five minutes in his most recent outing, he remains five games shy of eligibility.
The policy does contain an exemption for season-ending injuries, but only for players who have already reached 62 qualifying games—85 percent of their team’s schedule. Cunningham falls short of that benchmark.
Adopted to curb load management, the 65-game threshold has prompted concerns that athletes might rush back from injuries to protect award chances. Missing honors can also affect contract options: Cunningham could have become eligible for a super-max extension starting at 35 percent of the salary cap by earning All-NBA selections in 2026 and 2027; failure this year means he would need a berth in 2028 or 2029 instead.
Other stars are close to the cutoff. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić must appear in nine of the club’s final 10 contests, while San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama needs to play in at least seven of the team’s last 10 games to maintain award eligibility.
The union said it also issued a separate statement regarding the league’s player participation policy and reports that the Milwaukee Bucks may shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo for the balance of the season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
