NBA's 65-Game Awards Rule Claims More Victims, And Luka Dončić Could Be Next
Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham are now ineligible to be named to the All-NBA team, and Luka Doncic may soon join them.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 27: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on in the first quarter at Target Center on March 27, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Pistons 106-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) Getty Images Starting in 2023, the NBA began requiring players to appear in at least 65 games—and play 20-plus minutes in at least 63 of those—to be eligible for certain end-of-season awards such as Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year or the All-NBA teams. This year, it's backfiring about as hard as possible. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetekounmpo are among the stars who aren't even eligible for those honors this season.
Curry and Antetokounmpo have played in fewer than 40 games each, so they likely wouldn't be in contention for awards anyway. But the 65-game requirement is coming down to the wire for a few players. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is the latest to fall victim to it.
He missed his 17th game of the season on Thursday and played only three minutes in another, which doesn’t count toward the 65-game minimum. Edwards, who has made the All-NBA second team each of the past two years, is now ineligible for a three-peat. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is in the same boat.
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