NBA awards eligibility tracker: Updated games played for Cade Cunningham, SGA, other stars up for honors

NBA awards eligibility tracker: Updated games played for Cade Cunningham, SGA, other stars up for honors originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The NBA’s 65-game rule has its share of critics, but for now, it isn’t going anywhere.

Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and other stars will need to play at least 65 games to be eligible for awards such as MVP and All-NBA honors. With all three missing time this season, it could be a close call for each. The 65-game rule didn’t heavily impact the MVP race in either of its first two seasons after being implemented as part of the new collective bargaining agreement in 2023, but it could, at the very least, prevent Cunningham from earning All-NBA honors in a season that has seen him emerge as a legitimate MVP candidate.

The NBPA has already called for the rule to be changed, saying in a statement, "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. " While there is a minor exception for season-ending injuries, Cunningham doesn’t meet it. The Sporting News is tracking the award eligibility for some of the NBA’s stars, including Cunningham, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic.

Follow along below with each player’s games played count. MORE: Updated 2026 NBA mock draft NBA awards eligibility tracker With Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic both back on the court after dealing with injuries, each has a path to 65 games. MVP favorite Gilgeous-Alexander is set to clear the bar with some wiggle room, while Jokic can only miss one more game if he wants to be eligible for awards.