Kawhi Leonard said the 65-game rule is well-intentioned but won't make players play through real injuries, emphasizing that only the healthiest players can consistently take the court.
While the NBA continues to debate the 65-game rule, Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard shared his perspective.
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"It's great for the league, trying to stop people just from sitting. But like I said before, I don't think that rule is changing anybody to play if they're really hurt," Leonard said.
"I don't think it makes sense to just try to go for a game if you're in nagging pain. It's something you're trying to keep under control. It is what it is. The healthiest guys play. That's just how the ball rolls."
The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has called for the 65-game rule to be modified or eliminated.
In a recent statement, it cited Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham's potential ineligibility for postseason awards as an example of the rule's unfairness.
"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."
NBA commissioner Adam Silver defended the rule during Wednesday's Board of Governors meeting.
"I'm not ready to say it's not working," Silver said. "It is working. I'm not ready to say that because there is a sense of unfairness for one player, the rule doesn't work."
The 65-game rule, implemented in the 2023-24 season, requires players to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for major awards, including MVP, All-NBA, and Defensive Player of the Year.
Leonard himself has reached the 65-game mark just four times in his 14-year career.
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