Anthony Edwards’ appeal for All-NBA consideration denied

TL;DR

Anthony Edwards' appeal for All-NBA consideration has been denied, despite his challenge through the NBPA. This decision means he will miss out on a likely second-team All-NBA selection.

Key points

Anthony Edwards' appeal for All-NBA consideration denied
Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic qualified for awards despite fewer games
Edwards' challenge was supported by the NBPA but ultimately unsuccessful

Mentioned in this story

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Anthony EdwardsCade CunninghamLuka Doncic

Two NBA stars who played fewer than the requisite 65 games to be eligible for year-long awards are on the voters’ ballots this year. Anthony Edwards is not one of them.

Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Lakers guard Luka Doncic played 63 and 64 qualifying games, respectfully. Cunningham missed 12 games with a collapsed lung, while Doncic missed a pair of games to attend his daughter’s birth in Slovenia.

“The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA,” The National Basketball Players Association said Thursday.

Edwards also filed a challenge through the NBPA before an indepent arbitor, but his challenge was denied, which will cost Edwards what was likely to be a second-team All-NBA selection. Justin Holland, Edwards’ business manager, said he and Edwards appreciated the players association appealing the case.

“For me personally, I’m a bit confused at the clemency for Cade, who missed time for something that happened on the court, and not Ant, who missed time for an infection,” Holland said in a statement to ESPN insider Shams Charania. “But ultimately you already know Ant isn’t trippin’ over it AT ALL.”

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said it “sure would be nice” to hear an explanation for Edwards’ denial.

“Particularly when you look at the history of Anthony, who plays all the time,” Finch said. “I’m not sure why we have a rule if we have an appeals process that is overturned in two-thirds of the cases that were held before it. It feels more like a suggestion than a rule.”

Finch said Cunningham and Doncic are “super deserving” of award recognition and noted their injuries were legitimate this season. His gripe was not with them, but rather that Edwards’ situation didn’t receive similar treatment.

Edwards played 60 qualifying games this season.

“We’ve never rested him,” Finch said. “That’s not how he’s been. It just feels a little unfortunate that he was the only one left out.”

Q&A

Why was Anthony Edwards' All-NBA appeal denied?

Edwards' appeal was denied because the NBA and NBPA did not grant him the same extraordinary circumstances consideration given to Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic.

How many games did Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic play this season?

Cade Cunningham played 63 games and Luka Doncic played 64 games this season, both missing the 65-game threshold for eligibility.

What were the circumstances for Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic's eligibility?

Cunningham missed games due to a collapsed lung, while Doncic missed games to attend his daughter's birth, both of which were considered extraordinary circumstances by the NBA.