As the 2025-26 NBA season nears its end, the 65-game threshold for awards eligibility—introduced in 2023 to combat load management—continues to draw fire. With stars like Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo already sidelined from contention, Nikola Jokić can miss just one more game, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama hover near disqualification amid rising injury concerns.
Building on earlier debates, including Nikola Jokić's December knee injury that threatened his MVP bid, the rule now excludes several elites outright. Jokić has games to spare but risks falling short; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has five absences left, Wembanyama four, Dončić five, and Anthony Edwards seven.
Critics argue the policy warps historical records, as past MVPs often won despite missing games, and ignores the league's evolving physicality. Players now cover more ground at higher speeds, spiking calf strains that precede devastating Achilles tears. Evidence supports rest for longevity, yet awards tied to supermax contracts incentivize playing hurt—especially with the NBA's new $77 billion media rights deal prioritizing star availability over voter judgment on performance.
The rule's rigid cutoff undermines discretion and player health in a grueling era, fueling calls for revision before it further distorts legacies.
