Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham eligible for NBA season awards
Lakers star Luka Doncic and Pistons standout Cade Cunningham are eligible for all 2025-26 season awards, together with MVP and All-NBA groups, after their extraordinary circumstances problem of the 65-game rule was authorised by the NBA and NBPA on Thursday.
Doncic, who completed with 64 video games in the course of the common season, missed two video games in December due to the delivery of his youngster overseas.
Cunningham, who performed in 63 video games, missed 12 video games with a collapsed lung.
“The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards,” the league and the union mentioned in an announcement.
Minnesota‘s Anthony Edwardswho appeared in 60 video games, filed a problem as nicely. His case was superior to an unbiased arbitrator, however his problem was denied and he’s not eligible for awards.
The statuses of Dončić and Cunningham had been a significant matter towards the top of the season. Saint Anthony‘s Victor Wembanyama — an MVP candidate and the probably defensive participant of the 12 months — received to the 65-game mark within the Spurs’ next-to-last sport, and Denver‘s three-time MVP Nikola Jokic grew to become certified for this 12 months’s awards on the ultimate day of the common season.
Jokic has been first or second in MVP voting in every of the final 5 seasons and gained the league’s rebounding and help titles this season.
Nuggets coach David Adelman mentioned final week that he hopes the 65-game rule is modified, someway, this summer time. He mentioned if gamers like Jokic can play 64 video games, by no means wanting to return out, and never be award-eligible, then one thing is mistaken.
“That’s not the spirit of what that rule is,” Adelman mentioned.
Quite a lot of gamers shall be ineligible for most main particular person awards this season due to the 65-game rule, together with the Lakers’ LeBron Jameswhose 21-year streak of constructing an All-NBA workforce will finish. Milwaukee‘s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Golden State‘s Stephen Curry have additionally missed too many video games to be eligible.
With the selections on Dončić, Cunningham and Edwards now full, the NBA is predicted to ship award ballots to the panel of reporters and broadcasters who cowl the league within the coming days. It’s unclear when the announcement of award winners will start.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
