At least two NBA stars will successfully circumvent the league’s 65-game awards rule this season after the NBA and NBPA ruled in their favor on a challenge Thursday.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham will both be eligible for end-of-season awards, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Under the 65-game rule, neither made the cut due to late-season injuries.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards also sought an exemption, but his was denied.
The @NBA and @TheNBPA issue a joint statement saying Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham have successfully challenged the league’s 65-game rule …. but say Anthony Edwards’ challenge was denied: pic.twitter.com/8hXkIzIh2m
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 16, 2026
Cunningham and Doncic were both touted as MVP candidates at various points during the season. It is unlikely that either of them will win the award even after becoming eligible, but this will allow them to feature on All-NBA teams. That might matter in future contract negotiations, as inclusion on such teams can make players eligible for supermax deals.
The big tiebreaker here is that both Doncic and Cunningham had circumstances beyond their control keep them from the 65-game mark, and both definitely would have made it if not for them. Doncic played in 64 eligible games, while Cunningham played in 63. Edwards only played in 60 and did not receive the benefit of the doubt.
The awards eligibility rule has drawn criticism this season because of what it did to players like Cunningham. Adam Silver has made it clear that the rule is not changing, though there is apparently room for limited exceptions.
