Nuggets triple-doubles machine Nikola Jokic suffered a knee injury, which could leave the three-time MVP out of the running for NBA awards this season depending on how many games he sits out.
Nuggets triple-doubles machine Nikola Jokic suffered a knee injury, which could leave the three-time MVP out of the running for NBA awards this season depending on how many games he sits out.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
There is a sentiment that the NBA may have overreacted to the load management epidemic by mandating that players log at least 65 games to be eligible for league awards.
As many of the league’s stars are sidelined with legitimate injuries that will cost them multiple games, there is more discussion as to whether that rule should be eliminated. There are a handful of players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Paolo Banchero, Stephen Curry, and Victor Wembanyama who will either be ineligible for awards or will have to log most of their team’s remaining 40-plus games to keep eligibility.
And all of these players are dealing with legitimate injuries, meaning they are not being rested or unnecessarily held out to preserve their bodies. Unfortunately for the league, the Spurs’ idea of resting players to prevent injuries became a popular trend and commissioner Adam Silver had to step in and implement rules to punish teams that would rule healthy players out of nationally televised games, because of ratings damage.
But with the influx of soft-tissue injuries and the increased pace of the game taking a toll on bodies, players are missing more games and teams are being cautious with their expensive commodities.
So we’re going to see some new names as candidates for NBA awards because many of the mainstays won’t reach 65 games. The league will have to determine whether there’s a balance of ensuring players don’t take unnecessary days off and offering grace because the game is more athletic and physically taxing than ever.
Medical technology has allowed players to stay on the floor longer and there won’t be much sympathy from previous generations that played four games in five nights, wore less-protective sneakers, and did not have as many trainers and massage therapists as today’s players.
The 65-game limit appeared to be a grand idea a few years ago because load management was rampant. The question was whether players should be rewarded with league awards and the performance bonuses that accompany such honors playing less than 79 percent of the season. And if so, how many games should be the minimum? 60? 55? 50?
Should the NBA determine whether all of these injuries that cost players multiple games are legitimate? How will league observers and fans react to an MVP who played in just 50 games because of injury while his competitors for the award played perhaps 30 20-30 more games? These are questions for which the league doesn’t really have answers because teams already tested the integrity of the game by sitting players who were capable of playing in recent years.
And then there’s the topic of players who are candidates for awards for tanking teams, who may eventually rest these players because they’re going to help such teams win more games and that may not be those franchises’ goal. All of these factors make the 65-game limit issue more difficult and like many of the league’s issues, there is no clear solution because there are multiple agendas.
The Celtics’ Jaylen Brown has played like an MVP candidate, leading Boston to the third slot in the Eastern Conference, despite the absence of Jayson Tatum and the loss of several productive veterans. Yet, in the first release of the fan All-Star voting, Brown was sixth in the East, a disappointing number.
Former All-Star guard and Olympian Michael Redd posted his thoughts on X about the voting: “Initial NBA All-Star returns are in and ... it’s still a popularity contest. I made one NBA All-Star game in my career. Could I have made a few more? Maybe. Do I have regrets? Zero. But watching All-Star voting open up and seeing the NFL Pro Bowl rosters announced, I’m reminded: recognition lags reality. My take? These votes are based on name recognition, which comes from past performance, social media presence, and off-field narratives. Not necessarily who’s having the best season right now. Every year, guys who absolutely deserve it get left off because someone with six All-Star appearances is getting voted in for their seventh even when they probably shouldn’t. ESPN always runs a sorta snub list. It’s usually young players in small markets or guys having career years who just don’t have the brand yet.”
Brown responded favorably to Redd’s post and suggested the NBA Players Association should have more participation in All-Star selections.
I agree PR contest https://t.co/Qpsswy0VNs
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) December 29, 2025
“I was agreeing with what Michael Redd said,” Brown said. “he talked about how social media presence and PR have an impact on, you know, the voting aspects, and that then has an effect on notoriety and legacy and things like that. So I think Michael Redd made a great take. I just agree with, but also I would like to see some form of governance. This is stuff that I’ve submitted to the union.
“There’s nobody really checking to see, like, what’s actually going on in terms of fan voting, in terms of awards. I know the NBA has always done that and overseas, but I would like to be the union, to be a part of that, because we don’t know what’s actually taking place and just whatever I guess, the league puts out. And obviously that’s what we’ve all known and trusted, but I think that the union should be involved with not just fan voting, but also awards, etc. I think there should be more governance on that.”
NOT DEAD YET
Leonard, Clippers resurrect season
The Clippers entered Saturday’s showdown with the Celtics on a six-game winning streak after coach Tyronn Lue said the club would have to go 35-20 in its final 55 games following its 6-21 start.
Three of those victories during the streak — over the Lakers, Pistons, and Rockets — came against quality opponents. Kawhi Leonard dropped a career-high 55 points on the Pistons on the way to being named Western Conference Player of the Week.
Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 55 points this week against the Pistons.
Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 55 points this week against the Pistons.William Liang/Associated Press
Leonard is averaging a career-best 28.5 points and is playing at an All-Star level. Missed games has always been an issue for the gifted forward and he would need to play in 43 of the Clippers’ final 49 games to be eligible for All-NBA and other awards.
The understated Leonard wouldn’t saying he’s doing anything different than before, but being healthy has been a major factor.
“It’s nothing new,” he said. “I always come in the game playing aggressive. Overall it’s about getting your legs under you, preparing for the moment. It’s just a steady progression. We’re just playing better. Like I said before we’ve got more talent on the floor, by getting in the gym and working, the cream is rising to the top. I think it’s an overall collective of how we’re getting these games won.”
The dismissal of Chris Paul, Leonard’s bizarre marketing controversy that’s still under NBA investigation, and a horrible start were factors in the Clippers damaged reputation. Add to that there is no encouragement to tank or rebuild because the Clippers’ first-round pick goes to the Thunder as one of the final payments for the Paul George trade. So Lue made the 35-20 declaration, Derrick Jones Jr. has returned from the knee injury sustained in November in Boston and the supporting cast has played notably better.
“We’re growing as a team, understanding what we need to do and our guys have responded,” Lue said. “I give a lot of credit to Kawhi and James [Harden], how they’re able to play, getting guys open shots. It starts with our defense.”
The good news for the Clippers is the bottom half of the Western Conference is so bad that the play-in spot is quite attainable. Los Angeles began the new year just two games behind Portland for the 10th slot and 3½ games from ninth.
The hope is their aging core can stay healthy and maintain their level of play for the season’s final 3½ months.
“Kawhi and James, our two best players, could have easily packed it in and I wasn’t going to let that happen,” Lue said. “A lot of tough nights. A lot of tough losses but positivity is what got us through this. To stay positive to stay with this group, to work, you get results like this. We’ve got to keep going. Just starting all over, not worried about being 6-21. Our guys were able to put that behind us and keep pushing forward.”
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 31 points in a November road win over Joe Mazzulla's Celtics.
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 31 points in a November road win over Joe Mazzulla's Celtics.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
MORE IN TUNE
Youth helps Jazz play smoother
The Jazz continue their franchise rebuild but have been a more respectable opponent this season. They picked up perhaps the biggest win in the Will Hardy era with a victory Dec. 27 at San Antonio, on the heels of a 2-point home win against the Pistons.
Utah, led by former Celtics executive and player Danny Ainge, was just one game behind the Trail Blazers for the West’s final play-in spot entering the weekend. The question is whether the Jazz really want to compete for the final postseason position or prepare for the draft and go at it next year. Hardy, who was hired to coach the Jazz over the Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla, is at the stage where he’s trying to teach his young players consistency. That’s his primary focus.
Keyonte George, a first-round pick in 2023, is having a breakout third season and the Celtics know firsthand of his scoring prowess. He tallied 68 total points in the two matchups this season, including 37 in a Dec. 30 loss to the Celtics in Salt Lake City.
“Our responsibility is to be willing to adjust things that fit our personnel,” Hardy said of his developing roster. “Every coaching staff in the offseason, we all have these great ideas that all look good on the white board. They look good when the coaches walk through it on the court and then you put it into practice and it feels good in training camp and you get into the games and the opponents tells you whether it works or not. We also have with our group, playing with young players. We have some variance. We also have guys that are continuing to improve so we have to be willing as a staff to dive on those moments.”
The Jazz have gradually improved offensively as the season has progressed. They averaged 124.5 points, with 47.3 percent shooting and 39.5 from the 3-point line in going 6-7 in December. They could be a factor in the play-in race.
“The guys are continuing to have a better understanding how they can help each other,” Hardy said. “There’s 90 percent of the game they’re going up and down. We don’t get to talk to them as much as people think. There’s so much of the game where the team has to have the understanding. They’re the ones that are going it and how they fit together. For us as a staff it’s the learning about our own team and having the ability to throw things away that we thought would be great that didn’t work as well.”
UCONN-ECTION IN PORTLAND
Clingan front and center as Trail Blazers starter
Donovan Clingan grew up in Connecticut and starred at UConn, winning two titles.
Donovan Clingan grew up in Connecticut and starred at UConn, winning two titles.Amanda Loman/Associated Press
What the Trail Blazers want out of big man Donovan Clingan is consistency. He has proven to be a rim protector and rebounder and is averaging a double-double this season as the starting center. Portland waived Deandre Ayton last season and has brought often-injured former Celtics big man Robert Williams off the bench, allowing Clingan time to grow.
Clingan dominated the Celtics on Dec. 28 with 18 points and 18 rebounds in Portland’s home win and offered plenty of trash talk along the way. He’s proving there still is space in today’s NBA for a dominant, space-eating center. And he has expanded his game to the 3-point line, making 26 of his 78 attempts after taking 49 in 67 games as a rookie.
“I feel like I’m definitely getting better,” he said. “My touch around the rim, being aggressive, being patient. I feel like the threes are starting to fall a little bit, all the work I’ve put in, just starting to see things fall into place.”
And the future of the Portland center position is bright with the development of first-round pick Hansen Yang, considered a project who has played more NBA minutes than expected. He’s logged 10 minutes in each of the past three games as Clingan’s backup. The Blazers made the 20-year-old prospect from China a stunning first-round pick but he showed quickly that he possess skills to contribute now.
“He’s doing great,” Clingan said. “He’s in there working every day to get better. He’s guarding well, rebounding, sets good screens and protecting the rim and that’s all you can really ask for from a big.”
Layups
Celtics fans will miss seeing three-time MVP Nikola Jokic on Wednesday as he will miss at least the next month with a sprained knee. The Nuggets were relieved that it was a short-term injury because it looked series when he crumbled to the floor in a loss to the Heat. Jokic’s absence not only leaves a gaping hole in the Nuggets’ arsenal, it opens the MVP race because the big man is not expected to meet the 65-game limit. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a strong candidate along with the Lakers’ Luka Doncic, Pistons rising star Cade Cunningham, the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, and the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown. Brown could garner more support as the season progresses. With the Thunder taking their lumps of late with three losses to the Spurs, Gilgeous-Alexander’s momentum to repeat has taken a hit … An intriguing player on the trade market could be Michael Porter Jr., who is averaging a career-best 25.8 points as he has expanded his game and offensive freedom with the surging Nets. Porter has one more year on his contract at a manageable $40 million and could be a key piece for a team with immediate plans to win. The Nets are making plans for another draft lottery and, quite honestly, the offensive prowess of Porter is hurting their lottery chances. He is shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 41 percent from the 3-point line. Porter didn’t seem disappointed that Denver moved him in the offseason to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson, and he has shown the ability to be a No. 1 offensive option. … With Jakob Poeltl dealing with back issues, the playoff-charging Raptors signed former lottery pick Mo Bamba to a rest-of-the-season contract that’s nonguaranteed. Bamba has bounced around since spending his first 4½ seasons with the Magic, last playing four games with the Pelicans last season. Poeltl’s injury is not considered serious but Toronto wants to give him ample time to recover. … The Bucks are not giving up on retaining Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they are in search of another quality wing. The issue is their most marketable players — Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis — are not likely to garner a standout player in return. Kuzma has lived up to his reputation of being wildly inconsistent, while Portis is a quality bench player but aging.
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Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.