Adam Silver defended the NBA's 65-game rule despite growing criticism following Cade Cunningham’s injury, saying the system is still working as intended.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed growing criticism around the league's 65-game rule, as the debate over postseason award eligibility continues to heat up following Cade Cunningham recent injury.
Speaking at the NBA Board of Governors press conference, Silver pushed back against the idea that the rule is flawed, despite concerns raised by the National Basketball Players Association.
The policy requires players to meet a minimum number of games played to qualify for major awards, a rule that has come under fire in recent days.
"I'm not ready to say it's not working. It is working. I'm not ready to say because there is a sense of unfairness for one player, that the rule doesn't work," he explained.
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The NBPA released a strong statement criticizing the rule after Cunningham's situation brought renewed attention to the issue.
"Cade Cunningham's potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and yet another example of why it must be abolished or reformed to create an exception for significant injuries. Since its implementation, far too many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by this arbitrary and overly rigid quota."
Cunningham, 24, has been putting together a breakout season for the Detroit Pistons. The star guard is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting efficiently across 61 appearances.
His impact has been key to Detroit's rise this season, as the Pistons currently hold a 52-19 record and sit atop the Eastern Conference standings heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
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