The National Basketball Players Association has urged the NBA to revise its 65-game participation rule for postseason awards eligibility, seeking at minimum some flexibility to address current challenges.
The rule, introduced in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the 2023-24 season, requires players to appear in at least 65 regular-season games to qualify for honors like MVP and All-NBA teams. This policy aimed to curb load management and ensure award winners contribute substantially over the full 82-game schedule. Players must play, not just suit up, for the games to count.
As the 2025-26 season progresses, the rule has sparked debate. Top performers face tight margins with injuries and rest. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing at an elite level again, recently returned from a nine-game absence due to an abdominal strain. After an overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets, he addressed the policy directly. He prioritized health above awards, noting he would not push through injuries to meet the threshold. Still, he called the 65-game mark reasonable, pointing out that historical winners typically played most of their games anyway.
The landscape shows strain across the league. Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets, another MVP frontrunner, nears the limit with little room left. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama have dealt with injuries sidelining them from contention. Even Luka Doncic with the Los Angeles Lakers, has missed significant time. Analysis indicates only Gilgeous-Alexander among the top performers in advanced metrics like box plus-minus remains firmly on pace to qualify. Broader data reveals 10 of the top 25 players and 21 of the top 100 risk falling short, highlighting how injuries erode award races.
Critics argue the rule could lead to less deserving recipients filling spots vacated by stars. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors captured this concern, warning that fans might complain when lesser players earn All-NBA nods due to availability alone. Historical review supports the policy’s intent: every MVP before 2023 except Bill Walton in 1977-78 played 65 or more games, and 94 percent of All-NBA selections from 1967 to 2025 met the threshold without a formal mandate.
The NBPA’s call reflects growing unease over player health in a demanding era of heavier minutes and physical demands. Average playing time for stars has dipped below historical norms, prompting teams to protect high-value contracts through rest. With the season past its midpoint as of late March 2026, this push could influence negotiations and shape how awards reflect true excellence versus durability. It raises questions for the league’s credibility in honoring its best, potentially altering All-NBA compositions and supermax eligibility tied to those teams.
