Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons will be eligible for MVP and other individual accolades at the end of the season, despite not meeting the 65-game regular-season requirement. While many consider this rule unfair and it remains in place, the league has made an exception for these two players due to “extraordinary circumstances.”
Dončić played 64 games for the Lakers, missing two to be present for the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. Cunningham played 63 games, having been sidelined for 12 due to a collapsed lung diagnosed on March 17th. These are the reasons cited by the NBA that influenced their decision. Both players appealed, and the league acknowledged that, “given the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player met the criteria for award eligibility under the extraordinary circumstances provision of the CBA.”
The rule requiring a minimum number of games played each regular season to be eligible for major player awards is logical, as it rewards consistency. However, it can lead to situations where a star player, if sidelined for an extended period due to injury, might not qualify. This year, the cases of Dončić and Cunningham were highly exceptional, as they narrowly missed the mark and had very valid reasons for their absences. In contrast, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves was denied a similar appeal before an independent arbitrator, having played 60 games.
Current betting odds suggest Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the favorite to win the MVP award for the second consecutive year, followed by Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić.