Doncic and Cunningham, MVP eligible: NBA relaxes rule due to circumstances.

Doncic and Cunningham Eligible for NBA Awards Despite Rules

The NBA has announced that Luka Doncic, of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Cade Cunningham, of the Detroit Pistons, will be eligible for end-of-season awards, including the prestigious MVP. This decision was made despite the fact that both players did not meet the requirement of having played a minimum of 65 games during the regular season. The league issued an official statement explaining that, in agreement with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), it was determined that both Doncic and Cunningham qualify for the 2025-26 regular season annual awards. The decision is based on an “extraordinary circumstances” provision contemplated in the collective bargaining agreement.

“Considering the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for the awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision of the collective bargaining agreement,”

NBA Statement

Doncic missed games due to the birth of his daughter, while Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung. Doncic played 64 games, one less than the required minimum, and Cunningham played 63. Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves also requested an exception, but his case was denied.

The 65-game rule, introduced at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, requires players to participate in that number of games, with a minimum of 20 minutes played in each, to be eligible for awards. This regulation has generated controversy, especially this year, as it prevented several stars from being considered due to injuries. Doncic, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, had a remarkable performance in the second half of the season, averaging 37.5 points per game in March, which boosted his MVP candidacy. Cunningham, for his part, led the Pistons and was a strong candidate for the best quintets of the year.