The NBA's 65-Game Rule Just Broke the Awards Race Wide Open
The basketball gods are having a laugh at the NBA's expense right now, and honestly, the league's own rules are making it worse. Luka Dončić limped off the court Thursday night in Oklahoma City with a hamstring injury after just 26 minutes of play. That was his 64th game of the season. If he can't get back on the court in the next 10 days, he's done. And that's the problem.
When a Rule Gets Dumb Real Fast
The NBA instituted a 65-game minimum to qualify for MVP, All-NBA, and other major awards back in 2023-24. Sounds reasonable, right? Except now we've got a situation that's absolutely ridiculous. Anthony Edwards missed last night with an illness and he's already ineligible after playing in only 59 games. Cade Cunningham, the Pistons star, missed the last nine games with a collapsed lung and got re-evaluated yesterday, which means he's maxing out at 62 games played. Both Edwards and Cunningham would've easily made All-NBA any other year. Between 2015-16 and when this rule started, 16 players logged 64 games or fewer and still earned All-NBA honors. Sixty players in league history have made All-NBA in normal seasons despite playing 64 or fewer games.
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The Scramble for Eligibility
Now the real nightmare begins. Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić can each only miss one more game the rest of the season to stay eligible. Deni Avdija can miss one more game to stay eligible for All-NBA and Most Improved Player. Tyrese Maxey needs to play in two more games and Kawhi Leonard in four more. Everyone's holding their breath wondering if someone else gets dinged up. One bad night, one minor injury, one precaution, and another star gets wiped from the conversation.
The Thunder put the Lakers through a meat grinder Thursday, winning 139-96 in what was supposed to be a showdown between two hot teams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points and Oklahoma City led by as many as 46 at one point. For the Lakers, it was a blowout. For Dončić, it was the moment everything changed.
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