Luka Doncic’s Appeal Could Delay All NBA Awards
Luka Doncic only played in 64 games during the 2025-26 regular season. That means the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is just one game short of being eligible for any end-of-season NBA awards. Two years ago, the NBA implemented 65-game minimum requirement for players to eligible for awards.
Mar 25, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball down court during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images Doncic is Challenging the 65-Game Rule Doncic’s agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball said they are applying for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” to make Doncic eligible for awards. The six-time NBA All-Star, who is a frontrunner to be named an All-NBA First Team selection this season, has a strong argument that could help him win the appeal.
Doncic had to miss two games to travel to a different continent for his daughter’s birth in December, which would be the “extraordinary circumstance”. If he did not attend his daughter’s birth, he would have played in 66 games and met the eligibility criteria. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LA Sports Report (@lasportsreport) “This season, Luka Dončić has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory.
To ensure that Luka’s incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honored and he can be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” to the 65-game rule. “Luka missed two games this season for the birth of his second child in Slovenia. His daughter was born on Dec.
4 on another continent, and yet he was back in the United States competing with his team on Dec. 6. Luka has gone to great lengths to show up for his team and this league this season.