The NBA could become a competition of kings without crowns, one of the worst news for a competition that lives and grows thanks to marketing and the permanent creation of stars and role models. Injuries and the controversial 65-game rule have already condemnedLeBron James, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo to not be eligible for the end-of-season individual awards.
Other players ‘fallen’ by this rule include Ja Morant, Joel Embiid, Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis, Jalen Williams, Franz Wagner, Josh Giddey and Tyler Herro.
In the 2023-24 season, the NBA established the controversial requirement of a minimum of 65 games out of 82 to be eligible for end-of-year awards (All-NBA) and to encourage participation by its stars, a figure achievable only by players who do not fall injured.
The NBA stars on the brink of not meeting the 65-game requirement
But after the discarding of LeBron James and Stephen Curry, two kings who will no longer be able to have a crown, the list of NBA stars who are on the verge of not complying with the rule of a minimum of 65 games played is worrying.
The NBA stars on the verge of not meeting the 65-game rule are Nikola Jokic (one game), Devin Booker (three games), Victor Wembanyama (four games), Luka Doncic (five games) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (six games).
The consequences of not complying with the 65-game rule and not being eligible for All-NBA are also economic
The consequences of not complying with the 65-game rule, and not being eligible for the NBA’s end-of-season individual awards, also has financial consequences for the players.
Being included in the All-NBA teams is tied to eligibility for ‘supermax’ contracts, meaning that missing games can cost players millions of dollars in potential earnings.
There are limited exceptions for season-ending injuries (minimum 62 games played) and “extraordinary circumstances”, which require a complex appeals process.