Cade Cunningham wins appeal, eligible for NBA awards despite injuries

TL;DR

Cade Cunningham has won an appeal to be eligible for NBA awards despite not meeting the 65-game requirement. The decision was announced on April 16, allowing him to be considered for awards alongside other top players.

Key points

Cade Cunningham won an appeal for NBA award eligibility.
He did not meet the 65-game requirement due to injuries.
The decision was announced on April 16.
Cunningham led the Pistons to a 60-22 record.

Cade CunninghamLuka DončićDetroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers

Despite falling short of the NBA's rule requiring 65 games played to qualify for end-of-season awards, Cade Cunningham will be at the top of a lot of awards ballots.

The Detroit Pistons superstar, along with Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers, was made award-eligible Thursday, April 16, according to a joint statement from the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. The decision comes three weeks after the NBPA formally pushed to make an exception for Cunningham, who led the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and a 60-22 record.

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham dribbles against Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, April 12, 2026 in Indianapolis.

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Cunningham finished the season with 63 games that counted (with at least 20 minutes played) toward award eligibility. He missed 12 games after suffering a collapsed lung on March 17, but returned for the final three games of the season. Cunningham also missed three games in November with a hip issue and two games in January with a wrist injury.

The NBA and NBPA, in their most recent collective bargaining agreement, such as All-NBA, MVP, All-Defense and Defensive Player of the Year. Players who missed the cutoff were allowed to appeal if they missed games due to "extraordinary circumstances," rather than load management.

Q&A

Why was Cade Cunningham initially ineligible for NBA awards?

Cade Cunningham was initially ineligible because he did not meet the NBA's requirement of playing 65 games during the season.

What was the outcome of Cade Cunningham's appeal regarding NBA awards?

Cade Cunningham's appeal was successful, making him eligible for NBA awards despite his injury-related absence.

Who else was made award-eligible alongside Cade Cunningham?

Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers was also made award-eligible alongside Cade Cunningham.