In the offseason, the NBA introduced a new rule to its new collective bargaining agreement; a 65 game minimum rule. This rule dictates that in order to be eligible for any end-of-season awards or honors, a player must play 65 of the 82 games, and must play at least 20 minutes in those games. To put it simply, I think this rule is terrible.
Since 1955, there have been only five MVPs who played less than 65 games, two of those MVP seasons occurred in a lockout year, and one during the 2020 global pandemic. LeBron James won it playing all but four of the 62 game 2011-2012 season, Karl Malone won it playing all but one of the 50 game 1998-1999 lockout shortened season. Giannis Antetokounmpo played 63 out of the 73 games the Milwaukee Bucks played in the pandemic shortened year. This means that there have only been two MVPs who won it playing less than 65 games in a non shortened season. The other two MVPs were Bill Walton (58), and Bob Cousy (64). In fact, only two other MVPs have played more than 65 games, but less than 70. Joel Embiid last season (66) and Bill Russell (69).
The amount impacts the other post-season awards. The number of award winners who played less than 65 games are the following (including lockout seasons): Defensive Player of the Year (6), Rookie of the Year (6), Sixth Man of the Year (5). Players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Antetokounmpo would have been ineligible for All-NBA teams last season as well.
The ramifications of the rule change have already been felt. Embiid, who looked to be an MVP candidate, was averaging 35.3 points per game, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Embiid had occasionally missed games due to knee soreness. Fans cited the reason for this being “he didn’t want to play against good teams.” Embiid played a game against Golden State on the 30th of January after missing a few games prior. Embiid looked sluggish in the 30 minutes he played, scoring 14 points on 18 shots, and eventually tearing his meniscus. Embiid will now no longer be eligible for any awards or honors, and will likely not return until late March.
Tyrese Haliburton, who has missed 14 games, has spoken out against the new rule. “I think it’s a stupid rule, like plenty of guys in the league, but this is what the owners want, so as players, we gotta do our job and play in 65 games if we’re able to,” Haliburton said in an interview with the Athletic. Nikola Jokic, last year’s Finals MVP said, “I just don’t like it, how it forces players to play even if they’re injured if they want to achieve something.”
This not only affects player’s chances at winning awards, but their contracts as well. Players can receive more money in new contracts if they make any of the All-NBA teams, or awards. This means players have to choose not only awards over health, but also have to worry about the money they can earn on top of this. The long term effects of this change will be felt, as star players’ performances will either dip as they play hurt, deserving players will miss out on awards, or players will get hurt, worsening the quality of the game. I hope to see this rule be phased out, in order to support player health.
