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NBA
5 NBA players ineligible for season awards after Luka, Cade Cunningham ruling
TL;DR
The NBA ruled that Luka DonÄiÄ and Cade Cunningham qualify for end-of-season awards despite missing games. However, several notable players, including Devin Booker and LeBron James, will be ineligible due to insufficient games played.
Key points
- Luka DonÄiÄ and Cade Cunningham qualify for NBA awards
- Both players missed games due to personal and health reasons
- Devin Booker, LeBron James, and others are ineligible
Los Angeles LakersDetroit PistonsPhoenix SunsMinnesota Timberwolves
On Thursday, the NBA and the NBA Players Association (NBPA) officially ruled in favor of Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka DonÄiÄ and Detroit Pistons talisman Cade Cunningham regarding a touchy rule. With both DonÄiÄ and Cunningham sitting at 64 games on the very precipice of the league's 65-game eligibility threshold for end-of-season awards, both won their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenges. For DonÄiÄ, it was missing two games for the birth of one of his children. For Cunningham, it was suffering a late-season collapsed lung that caused him to miss 12 games.
That means both superstars will be able to qualify for MVP, All-NBA, and any other honors. But not every notable NBA star was so lucky. In fact, if you weren't on the borderline, you probably had no chance of winning a similar ruling.
Here's a short list of a few notable players who will not qualify for end-of-season honors, particularly All-NBA. Please note that for the players who weren't even close to the eligibility, it's more of a noteworthy denotation that they won't, in fact, do something they usually do:
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (64 games)
- Anthony Edwards, (61 games)
Q&A
Why are Luka DonÄiÄ and Cade Cunningham eligible for NBA awards?
Luka DonÄiÄ and Cade Cunningham were granted eligibility for NBA awards after winning their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenges, allowing them to qualify despite missing games.
Which NBA players are ineligible for end-of-season awards?
Notable players ineligible for end-of-season awards include Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo due to insufficient games played.
What is the NBA's 65-game eligibility rule for awards?
The NBA's 65-game eligibility rule requires players to participate in at least 65 games to qualify for end-of-season awards like MVP and All-NBA.