The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have agreed that Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is eligible for end-of-season awards (via ESPN). He was allowed to bypass the 65-game minimum eligibility requirements. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has also become eligible due to this same exception.
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts after being eligible for NBA Awards
NBA Awards require players to have participated in at least 65 games to be eligible for contention. However, the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement contains an “extraordinary circumstances” clause. It allows a player to petition for ballot eligibility if he doesn’t meet the 65-game minimum.
Luka Doncic played 64 games in the regular season. He missed two games in December because he had to travel abroad for his child’s birth. Meanwhile, Cade Cunningham played in 63 games, missing the mark by just two. He missed 12 games due to a lung collapse he suffered in March. In a statement, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association said, “The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Doncic, each player qualified for awards.”
Doncic took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to express his gratitude for the consideration. He wrote, “I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision. It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter in December and I appreciate Mark, Jeanie, Rob, JJ, and the entire Lakers organization for fully supporting me and allowing me to travel to be there.”
He concluded his post, writing, “This season has been so special to me because of what my teammates and I have been able to accomplish, and I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards.”
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards had also challenged the rule, besides Doncic and Cunningham. However, the arbitrator denied Edwards’ case, making him ineligible for the end-of-season NBA Awards.
Originally reported by Ankita Shaw on Mandatory.
