NBA rules Luka Doncic is eligible for end-of-season awards

When Luka Doncic was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain nearly two weeks ago, it was very bad news for the Los Angeles Lakers. They had won 16 of their previous 18 games heading into that April 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, during which Doncic got hurt, and the injury stopped their momentum dead in its tracks.

But the ailment was also bad news for Doncic individually. He finished the regular season having appeared in 64 games, which is one game short of the 65-contest minimum the NBA mandates for players to be eligible for individual awards given out at the end of the season.

Doncic had previously missed two games to witness the birth of his daughter, which led his agent, Bill Duffy, to apply for an "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge" to that 65-contest rule. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, the league has ruled in Doncic's favor. That means the Slovenian superstar will be eligible for awards such as All-NBA honors and the MVP award.

In all likelihood, Doncic will not win the MVP award, but it does seem very likely, if not certain, that he will be voted onto one of the three All-NBA teams. He will also end up with the scoring title thanks to his average of 33.5 points a game, and it will be his second scoring title in the last three seasons.

He took to X (formerly Twitter) to give thanks to the NBA for the decision it made in his case.

The 27-year-old reportedly received treatment on his injured hamstring via injection in Spain, and he will return to Los Angeles on Friday. The Lakers will start their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, and with Game 6 and Game 7 (if necessary) taking place in early May, one has to wonder if he could be able to return at that time.