Each Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham will probably be eligble for awards after an NBA ruling
Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham have been granted exemptions from the NBA’s 65-game eligibility threshold for end-of-season awards, after the league and the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation agreed that each gamers certified underneath a rare circumstances clause – whereas Anthony Edwards was denied the identical therapy.
The developments have thrown renewed scrutiny on a rule that has divided opinion all season, with a number of of the league’s largest names, together with LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry and Devin Booker, all falling in need of the 65-game minimal and lacking out on award consideration totally.
Doncic and Cunningham Given Inexperienced Gentle
Doncic performed in 64 certified video games of 20 minutes or extra throughout the common season, with two absences in December attributed to travelling for the delivery of his daughter overseas.
Cunningham, in the meantime, performed 63 certified video games after struggling a collapsed lung in mid-March that price him 12 video games. He did seem in a sixty fourth recreation however logged solely 5 minutes in opposition to Washington on March 17.
Relatively than ship the circumstances to arbitration, the NBA and NBPA agreed to waive the rule for each males.
“The NBA and NBPA agreed that, considering the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Doncic, every participant certified for awards,” the league and union mentioned in a joint assertion.
Doncic expressed his gratitude in a put up to X. “I’m grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for his or her truthful resolution,” he wrote.
“It was so vital to me to be current for the delivery of my daughter in December, and I respect Mark, Jeanie, Rob, JJ, and the complete Lakers group for absolutely supporting me and permitting me to journey to be there.
“This season has been so particular to me due to what my teammates and I’ve been in a position to accomplish, and I’m honoured to have the chance to be thought-about for the league’s end-of-season awards.”
Edwards Denied
The result was starkly totally different for Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who performed in 60 video games this season after lacking time with an an infection.
Edwards took the route of difficult the rule through arbitration, however the arbitrator denied his case, leaving him ineligible for awards.
The choice drew a pointed response from his enterprise supervisor Justin Holland. “Anthony and I respect the PA interesting his case,” Holland mentioned.
“For me personally, I’m a bit confused on the clemency for Cade who missed time for one thing that occurred on the court docket, and never Ant, who missed time for an an infection, however finally you already know Ant isn’t trippin over it AT ALL.”
The 65-game threshold, launched within the NBA’s collective bargaining settlement to deal with load administration considerations, has been probably the most debated subjects of the 2025-26 season.
Victor Wembanyama squeezed in his sixty fifth recreation within the penultimate fixture of the common season, and Nikola Jokic didn’t attain the mark till the ultimate day.
Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman has known as for reform. “That’s not the spirit of what that rule is,” he mentioned final week, arguing that if a participant like Jokic can play 64 video games with out ever wanting to come back out and nonetheless miss award eligibility, one thing wants to vary.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, nonetheless, pushed again. “I believe it’s working,” Silver mentioned ultimately month’s board of governors press convention. “Virtually a 3rd of the All-NBA gamers had not performed 80% of the video games within the three years earlier than we adopted this rule. That was an enormous situation for the league. You see them on the ground now.”
