Key Takeaways
- Luka Dončić (Lakers) and Cade Cunningham (Pistons) were ruled eligible for the 2025‑26 NBA individual awards—including MVP and All‑NBA teams—after a joint NBA‑NBPA review of their exceptional circumstances.
- Dončić missed two regular‑season games due to the birth of his child abroad, finishing the season with 64 appearances; Cunningham missed 12 games with a collapsed lung, ending with 63 games. Both were granted waivers to the league’s 65‑game minimum rule.
- Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards filed a similar challenge (60 games played) that was forwarded to an independent arbitrator, which denied his request, leaving him ineligible for awards.
- The rulings clarify the status of several high‑profile players who fell short of the 65‑game threshold, such as LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Stephen Curry, whose award streaks will end this season.
- NBA officials indicated that award ballots will be sent to media voters soon, though the exact date for announcing winners remains uncertain.
- Nuggets coach David Adelman reiterated criticism of the 65‑game rule, arguing that penalizing players who consistently play near the threshold undermines the rule’s intended purpose.
Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham have cleared the final hurdle to be considered for the NBA’s 2025‑26 season individual honors. Both players fell short of the league’s 65‑game participation minimum required for MVP, All‑NBA, and other major awards, but the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) jointly announced on Thursday that, after reviewing the “totality of the circumstances” surrounding each case, they would grant eligibility. Dončić appeared in 64 regular‑season games; his two absences in December stemmed from the birth of his child while he was overseas. Cunningham logged 63 games, missing a dozen contests after suffering a collapsed lung. The league’s statement emphasized that the unique, non‑basketball‑related nature of these absences justified an exception to the rule.
In contrast, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves saw his challenge denied. Edwards had played in 60 games and filed a request similar to those of Dončić and Cunningham. His case was escalated to an independent arbitrator, who ruled against granting him a waiver, leaving Edwards ineligible for any of the season’s major individual awards. The arbitrator’s decision underscores the league’s stance that only circumstances deemed truly extraordinary—and directly tied to a player’s inability to compete—will warrant an exception.
The decisions have immediate ripple effects across the league. Several stars who also failed to reach the 65‑game mark will now be ineligible for awards, ending notable streaks. LeBron James, whose 21‑year consecutive run of All‑NBA selections is poised to conclude, will not be on the ballot this year. Likewise, two‑time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and three‑time champion Steph Curry fall short of the games‑played threshold and will miss out on award consideration. Denver’s Nikola Jokić, who secured eligibility on the season’s final day after achieving his 65th game, remains a leading MVP candidate, having also captured the rebounding and assist titles this year.
NBA coach David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets publicly questioned the wisdom of the 65‑game rule, saying that if a player like Jokić can suit up for 64 games—never opting to rest—yet still be barred from awards, the rule’s intent is being misunderstood. Adelman’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among coaches and analysts that the threshold may need revisiting, particularly when absences stem from legitimate personal or health issues rather than load‑management strategies.
With the eligibility determinations for Dončić, Cunningham, and Edwards now finalized, the NBA is preparing to distribute award ballots to the panel of reporters and broadcasters who cover the league. The exact timeline for announcing the winners has not been disclosed, but voters will soon begin weighing performances for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All‑NBA teams, and other honors. The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of these developments.
In summary, the league’s waiver for Dončić and Cunningham highlights the NBA’s willingness to adjust its participation rule for truly exceptional, non‑competitive reasons, while reinforcing the rule’s strict application in less extraordinary cases such as Edwards’. The outcome reshapes the award landscape for 2025‑26, ending longstanding streaks for several superstars and prompting fresh debate over the efficacy and fairness of the 65‑game minimum.