NBA's 65-Game Rule: Where Cade Cunningham, Kawhi Leonard, Other Award Candidates Stand

The 65 Game Minimum Rule is Ruining the MVP Race

Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols break down how several MVP candidates might miss the NBA's 65-game minimum played rule and why it needs to be amended

NBA's 65-game rule: Where Cade Cunningham, Kawhi Leonard, other award candidates stand

The games-played requirement could have an enormous impact on the MVP and All-NBA races

Cade Cunningham Headlines Players Hindered By 65-Game Rule

Right now, there are two big topics in the NBA. One is that the league has continued to charge ahead in their efforts to expand to 32 teams, adding franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle. The second is NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s installation of the increasingly unpopular 65-game rule, with Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham now a potential victim of the draconian measures. Despite leading the once woebegone franchise to the top of the Eastern…

Cade Cunningham injury puts NBA’s 65-game rule back under microscope

Getty The NBA’s 65-game rule isn’t just unpopular. It’s reshaping the season in real time. And now it’s hitting Detroit. Cade Cunningham is at 60 qualifying games after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung. If he doesn’t return by early April, he’s out of MVP and All-NBA consideration. Same story for Isaiah Stewart, who was in the Defensive Player of the Year mix before a calf strain ended that run. This is the rule in action. The threshold is …

Cade Cunningham's Injury Sparks Debate on NBA's 65-Game Rule

The NBA's 65-game rule, intended to promote player participation and combat load management, has backfired, exacerbating health concerns among players and potentially sidelining star athletes for awards. Cade Cunningham's current health issues exemplify the flaws of this policy, which could unjustly penalize players for injuries beyond their control. Despite a stellar season, Cunningham's eligibility for All-NBA and MVP honors is in jeopardy due…

Column | The 65-game minimum: What it is and why it needs to go

The NBA’s 65-game minimum requirement for end-of-season award eligibility was introduced as a part of the collective bargaining agreement back in 2023, and it’s already caused way more problems than it’s solved. The 2025-26 season has made this clearer than ever. Stars are getting hurt left and right, and instead of the conversation being about who played the best basketball, it’s about whether the league’s top player can even qualify for MVP. T…