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Personally affected by it, Lu Dort opens up about NBA's 65-game rule
TL;DR
Lu Dort expressed his concerns about the NBA's 65-game rule, which has led to criticism for excluding deserving players from accolades. The rule's impact is highlighted by uncertainty surrounding Luka Doncic's eligibility for the All-NBA Team.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 08: Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA game at Intuit Dome on April 08, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)
While the rest of the starters and main rotation sat out, Lu Dort had to suit up for the final two games of the regular season. Welcome to life with the NBA's 65-game rule.
In the third season since the polarizing rule was introduced to curb load management, the NBA has been under heavy criticism for the 65-game rule knocking out accolade-worthy candidates from being able to get listed on ballots or make an All-NBA or All-Defense Team.
You're seeing the rule's impracticality play out in real time. We still don't know if Luka Doncic will be eligible for an All-NBA Team. For the scoring champion not to get one of the 15 spots is a detriment to the league's image. And because his case is going through legal channels, we won't know until later if he can actually be made an exception.
Which is a whole can of worms in itself. If Doncic succeeds in his appeal, then the 65-game rule really isn't a rule — it's a suggestion. Something that should be pretty black or white has opened the door to a grey area, which defeats the whole purpose of it.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the teams affected by the 65-game rule's overly complex reasoning. Dort had to play their last two regular-season games to get to the threshold to make an All-Defense Team — that's despite already playing 65-plus games by the time they clinched the first seed with two games to spare.
That's because Dort only had 63 games that actually counted toward his tally of the 65-game rule. We learned that you only get to exceptions if you play within 15-20 minutes per game. The other 63 must be with 20-plus minutes logged.
Seeing his playing time dwindle in recent months, Dort had to play two more games with 20-plus minutes. In OKC's last two contests — which were really, glorified G League games — he reached 20 minutes and then checked out. He talked about his weird experience doing that as the Thunder await their Round 1 opponent.
"There's nothing that we can do about it. Try your best to be available," Dort said. "Sometimes you're unlucky where you're not able to play some games just because you're hurt. But yeah, it is what it is.”
While there are plenty of big-name examples about the convoluted 65-game rule, Dort is another one to add to your case if you think the NBA is better off without it. It's always had its critics, but this feels like the loudest year for those who say the arbitrary requirement has completely lost its purpose and made things overly complicated.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Personally affected by it, Lu Dort opens up about NBA's 65-game rule
Q&A
What is the NBA's 65-game rule and why was it introduced?
The NBA's 65-game rule was introduced to reduce load management and ensure players participate in a minimum number of games to qualify for accolades.
How has the 65-game rule affected player eligibility for awards?
The rule has resulted in notable players, like Luka Doncic, potentially missing out on All-NBA and All-Defense Team selections due to not meeting the game requirement.
What are the implications of Luka Doncic's eligibility under the 65-game rule?
Luka Doncic's eligibility is currently uncertain as his case is being reviewed, and missing out on an All-NBA spot could negatively impact the league's reputation.
Who is Lu Dort and what did he say about the 65-game rule?
Lu Dort is a player for the Oklahoma City Thunder who voiced his concerns about the impracticality of the 65-game rule after having to play in the final games while others rested.
