With three weeks left in the regular season, the NBA's 65-game rule is impacting MVP, All-NBA and other award races due to recent injuries. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham's collapsed lung diagnosis puts his eligibility in jeopardy if he misses the April 4 game. Players like Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Edwards have limited wiggle room remaining.
The NBA requires players to participate in at least 65 regular-season games—defined as logging 20 or more minutes, with up to two additional games of 15-20 minutes—to qualify for most end-of-season awards, excluding Sixth Man, Rookie, All-Rookie and Clutch Player of the Year. An exception allows eligibility after 62 games if a season-ending injury occurs, provided those games represent 85% of the team's schedule. Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James are already ineligible due to missed games earlier in the season. Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart called the rule problematic, saying, 'I feel like it hurts guys,' before straining his left calf, ending his Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defense chances. On Thursday, the Pistons announced Cunningham's collapsed lung, with reevaluation in two weeks around April 2. To stay eligible for MVP or All-NBA, he must play against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 4 and continue frequently thereafter, as the Pistons have no back-to-backs but play every other night. Kawhi Leonard has one game of wiggle room after missing a Clippers loss to the Pelicans with a sprained left ankle. Anthony Edwards faces reevaluation in one to two weeks for knee inflammation and needs to return by March 30 versus the Mavericks. Tyrese Maxey, sidelined three weeks from March 10 with a finger sprain, requires four more games for All-NBA. Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama each have a one- to two-game buffer. For Defensive Player of the Year, Wembanyama needs 10 of 12 remaining Spurs games, while Ausar Thompson can miss no more than one. Draymond Green requires 12 of 13 Warriors games. In Most Improved Player, Deni Avdija has no room left after a back injury, with Jalen Duren now the betting favorite.