The Detroit Pistons will be without Cade Cunningham due to a collapsed lung for an extended period.
While the Pistons have already secured a playoff spot, Cunningham’s injury might affect his chances in the NBA award season, including considerations for league MVP and All-NBA honors.
The National Basketball Players’ Association (NBPA) is addressing this issue.
NBPA seeks change to 65-game rule
Currently, NBA players must play at least 65 games to qualify for major awards. Players who fall short of this limit, except in certain cases, cannot be considered for honors. This rule was aimed at reducing excessive load management.
Cunningham’s situation is different, as it involves a legitimate injury rather than a strategic decision to rest a player. He has played in 61 games, so he does not meet the criteria.
The NBPA commented on this issue on Tuesday, as reported by the Associated Press and ESPN:
“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season highlights the flaws in the 65-game rule. It reveals the need for reform to account for significant injuries,” an NBPA spokesperson said. “Since this rule was introduced, many deserving players have been unfairly excluded from end-of-season awards.”
Cunningham is not the only player facing this challenge.
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) will likely end his streak of All-NBA selections this season due to missing 21 games, while Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) are also at risk of ineligibility.
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) and Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) are also close to missing out on awards.
This presents a challenge for the league, as the rule aims to ensure that top players are on the court. It’s important for fans who spend money to see these athletes play. They want to avoid paying high prices only to discover their favorite players are resting for load management.
The strict nature of the rule is tough, but it was mutually agreed upon by the league and the players’ union. If there’s going to be a standard, it should be consistently applied without bias based on a player’s popularity or season performance.
It’s essential to adhere to the rules or reconsider their existence.