SUMMARY
- The NBA introduced a 65-game threshold for players to be eligible for certain league honors as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in April 2023.
- Some notable players, such as Tyrese Haliburton and Joel Embiid, are at risk of missing out on awards due to the 65-game threshold.
In April 2023, the NBA league and its players made peace with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and its guidelines. Apart from trades, free agency, salary caps, and luxury tax, there was one other condition that might affect the year-end awards in the 2023–2024 season. There are two conditions that a player has to tick off to become eligible for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, and other awards.
The 65-game threshold was introduced as part and parcel of the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). It is also linked to the new Player Participation Policy. Bobby Marks of ESPN sheds light on the 65-game threshold in his article. The foremost criterion for being eligible for certain league honors is that the player must have played at least 65 regular-season games.
The second condition is that, before sustaining a season-ending injury, the player must have clocked minutes in 62 regular-season games. Adding to this, the player must have played at least 85% of the regular-season games before he succumbs to the said injury. Furthermore, the player must clock at least 20 minutes in each of these games, with a couple of exceptions.
These rules were introduced to minimize multiple star player absences in the same game and improve player participation in the NBA’s 82-game regular season. However, some players with an illustrious 2023–24 season might miss out on some awards.
Players that will become intelligible for awards because of the 65-Game Threshold
According to this new rule, each player can only go M.I.A. in a maximum of 17 out of 82 games this season. The two most debated names are Tyrese Haliburton and Joel Embiid. Haliburton has already missed 13 games and just has four more in his pocket to be eligible for the All-NBA awards.
As we talk about the 65 games played threshold for NBA awards, here’s who’s at risk of missing out on an award or an All-NBA team. Kyrie Irving already out.
Reminder: rule does not apply to Rookie of the Year or All-Rookie teams. Just MVP, DPOY, MIP, All-NBA + All-Defense teams. pic.twitter.com/FQPpbnFjdn
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 31, 2024
Joining him on the list is Joel Embiid, who might miss his 13th game this season on February 1, 2024. There are many others who won’t be able to make it, as they have missed 20 or more games already. For example, Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
Furthermore, Jimmy Butler can now afford to miss just 3 more games, while Bam Adebayo still has 7 games in his pocket. This might affect how the awards will be distributed this season, while players struggle to show up for the rest of the games.
NBA executive Joe Dumars is not surprised by the 65-game threshold’s repercussions
Referring to the turmoil that the NBA League is dealing with, NBA executive Joe Dumars let out his views in the open. He said, “You’re always going to have unintended consequences; that’s the first thing.” Adding to the rhetoric, he said, “It could’ve been a month from now. The number is what the number is. I’m not surprised.”
Dumars was straightforward in laying the facts on the table when he mentioned how the number was collectively bargained. And the fact that it was signed off by the players’ association, the competition committee, and even the team owners makes much more sense now. After all, agreeing on showing up merely 20% of the season doesn’t mean too much, or does it?