Two NBA stars award-eligible after exception to 65-game rule

By Sandy Verma On Apr 17, 2026

Place Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham back on NBA MVP ballots.

On Thursday, the league ruled Doncic and Cunningham remain eligible for MVP and All-NBA teams, even though neither met the 65-game threshold.

NBA explains decision to grant the appeals of Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham

“Cunningham played in 63 qualified games due in part to missing 12 games as a result of a collapsed lung that was diagnosed on March 17. Doncic played in 64 games due to missing two games to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia,” the league said in a statement (h/t FS1/Sports Illustrated contributor Rachel Nichols). “The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Doncic, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA.”

The appeal of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, meanwhile, was denied. A lingering knee issue and an illness limited him to 61 games.

One could argue this is yet another example of the league playing favorites. Would it do the same for other players? Maybe not.

Doncic and Cunningham, however, had legit reasons for missing games, unlike many stars who use load management as an excuse. And they have been among the best players in the league this season.

Doncic led the league in scoring (33.5 points per game) and ranked third in assists (8.3 assists per game) during the regular season, leading the Lakers to a 53-29 record and helping them clinch the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The availability of the star guard, who’s battling a hamstring issue, remains uncertain heading into Game 1 of L.A.’s first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

Cunningham, meanwhile, ranked 16th in the league in scoring (23.9 PPG) and second in assists (9.9 APG). His stellar play helped the Pistons (60-22) secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, giving them a better chance to win their first title since the 2003-04 season. Detroit will face the Charlotte Hornets or Orlando Magic in its first-round playoff series, which begins Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).

Some voters will hold the missed games against Doncic and Cunningham. That’s still not going to change that they’re once again in the race for MVP and eligible for other accolades.