Officially, the NBA has maintained that it plans to keep its 65-game rule that determines eligibility for regular-season awards and All-NBA teams.
Anecdotally, current and former NBA players have become increasingly critical about how the policy undermines awards consideration and their comfort with fully rehabbing injuries.
"I wish they would get rid of that," NBA on NBC analyst Reggie Miller said. "That, to me, is ridiculous."
What else is ridiculous: how both the league and players contributed to such a bad idea.
In 2023, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association agreed through collective bargaining to pass the "Player Participation Policy" in hopes of improving player attendance through the regular season. But since then, the policy has just amounted to a Band-Aid solution to a problem that the league, its teams and its players have mismanaged.
During the 2024 NBA Finals, commissioner Adam Silver noted, "We're happy with the 65-game rule." There's no indication that he has changed his stance since then. The NBA believes the rule has improved regular-season player availability, but it hasn't resolved the problem completely. Notable NBA stars experienced varying injuries in the playoffs in 2024 (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Kristaps Porziņģis, Zion Williamson) and in 2025 (Lillard, Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton).
During the 2024 Finals, Silver cast uncertainty about whether the injuries in the 2024 postseason stemmed from the 65-game rule as opposed to the unpredictable nature of injuries themselves. But those around Embiid and Haliburton have suggested those players felt pressure to return from regular-season injuries earlier than expected. The reason: both felt a burden to play in at least 65 games to retain regular-season award eligibility. This season, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Cade Cunningham are nearing disqualification for regular-season MVP consideration due to various injuries. For the first time in his 23-year NBA career, LeBron James already will not make an All-NBA team because of various ailments.
"Cade shouldn't suffer what happened to him, because he's had a hell of a year," Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "Detroit is No. 1 in the East with the way they've been playing all season long. So if he plays 60 games and he doesn't make it, then I don't think that's fair."
Why League, Players Both Deserve Criticism
The players have grounds to protest the letter of the law. The NBA's regular-season awards should value a player's production over his durability.
"If a guy plays 59 games and is the best player in the league, isn't he still the best player in the league?" Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. "We know that. Maybe move it. We never used to have a number."
They don't have a case, however, to dispute the spirit of the law. The NBA has awarded only one regular-season MVP to someone who played fewer than 65 games in an 82-game schedule. (Bill Walton played 58 in 1977-78.) Four other regular-season MVPs played fewer than 66 games because of reduced schedules: Antetokounmpo (63 out of 70 games in 2019-20 during pandemic), James (62 out of 66 games in 2011-12 after lockout), Karl Malone (49 out of 50 games in 1998-99 after lockout) and Bob Cousy (64 out of 72 games in 1956-57).
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick noted, "It's fine to have some sort of guidance for voters." Rivers added, "If a guy plays 45 games and you vote for him, then that's just ridiculous." But most voters already factored in availability, anyway.
"I don't care how great the player is that played 50 games. I don't care how great his season was," NBA on NBC analyst Tracy McGrady said. "He cannot win an award over a player that has played 60 or 65 games."
So why would the NBA and the NBPA agree to such a ridiculous idea? The simple answer: money. The more complicated answer: both parties hoped the policy would improve regular-season attendance and health without changing the league's 82-game schedule. As Silver said about the NBA and NBPA during the 2024 Finals, "We have the same incentives, and that is to keep star players on the floor."
During the rule's inception, the NBA said "teams must manage to ensure one star player is out per game, prioritize rest for home games over road games, and avoid long-term ‘shutdowns.'" Barring major injuries or personal emergencies, only veteran players that were at least 35 years old were permitted to sit in back-to-backs. The NBA considered it a priority for stars to be available for nationally televised games and the in-season tournament. The NBA added that it would issue a range of fines to teams that conducted what it called "improper rest" for first-time violators ($100,000), repeat offenders ($250,000) and subsequent infractions ($1 million).
Players have often said that training staffs and front offices exert more influence in players' availability. Given that, the rule theoretically would force teams to respond to the league's expectations while shielding players from scrutiny.
Why League, Union Agreed to 65-Game Rule
It's not a coincidence that the NBA and NBPA passed this rule while the league negotiated an upcoming media rights deal. By promoting better star player availability in marquee games, the NBA Cup and the regular-season at large, the NBA can better ensure a more robust television rights package and reduce any relative unease about each game's viewing power.
Mission accomplished. The NBA secured an 11-year, $77 billion rights deal with network channels (NBC, ABC), cable (ESPN) and streaming platforms (Amazon Prime Video, Peacock). The NBA didn't significantly address the problem, however.
Only a month into the 2025-26 season, Antetokounmpo, Wembanyama, James, Williamson, Fred VanVleet, Bradley Beal, Trae Young, Ja Morant and Jalen Williams were the most notable stars to endure significant injuries. Observers in NBA circles and outside medical experts have mixed opinions on whether reducing the 82-game schedule would improve player health. Instead, more seem to agree that the game's faster pace and individualized training over controlled scrimmages play a larger factor in the frequent soft-tissue injuries.
Regardless, the 65-game rule has produced a loud ticking clock for players to rush out of the trainer's room to maintain eligibility for regular-season awards and All-NBA teams. But the players aren't complete victims here. The NBA and NBPA collectively bargained for players to be eligible for extra earnings if they make an All-NBA team. They should accept that potential bonuses come with strings attached.
Nonetheless, it has become clear that the NBA should change the 65-game rule. The league rightfully has concerns about player availability. But it appears uncertain whether that has significantly improved, and if the policy has played a major factor. Meanwhile, the 65-game rule has preemptively altered regular-season award outcomes despite the fact that most voters already considered participation.
Mark Medina is an NBA contributor to Athlon Sports. Follow him onX,Blue Sky,Instagram,Facebook andThreads.
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