This season is the first for the NBA’s new Player Participation Policy and it looks like it will definitely have some impact on the end of season awards.
The rule requires players to have a minimum of 65 games played to qualify for any of the awards. If this rule had been implemented since the beginning of the NBA 28 of the awards would have gone to different players. Some recent cases include the 2019-20 season where Giannis Antetokounmpo won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) despite playing only 63 games; last year’s DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr., who played just 63 games; and James Harden wouldn’t have won 6th Man of The Year in 2011-12 season playing 62 games.
This rule was set so that star players are on the court when they are healthy and don’t rely on “load management” to rest their bodies for “easy games”. From the NBA’s standpoint, load management is bad for the league as it hurts TV ratings and the fan experience since those who come to games spend money to see big stars play, so having them sit out for rest is disappointing.
Players have spoken out about this new rule. In a Fox Sports article, two-time MVP and reigning finals MVP Nikola Jokic said, “I just don’t like it, how it forces players to play if they’re injured to achieve something.” Another player, 2022-23 All-NBA guard Jaylen Brown, is also against the intensity of the rule saying in the same article “We’ve got guys who play half the season and win MVP. I’m not a big fan of that. But maybe 65 games might be a little too severe. Maybe they lessen it to 58 or something like that.”
Not every NBA voice is against the new rule with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, in an article by Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Chavkin, saying “These players got nobody to blame but themselves. The Players Association signed off on the deal. I thought it should have been 70 games, personally.”
Already some stars have been ruled ineligible or find themselves very close to being ineligible. Last year’s MVP Joel Embiid can’t win back-to-back MVPS or claim the scoring title which he was on pace to do. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is now ineligible for a potential 50 million dollar contract extension since he can’t make an all-NBA team.
With players already ineligible for awards, there will be many close races towards the end of the season. Undoubtedly, there will be headlines on if ineligible players would’ve gotten a certain award if they met the 65 game mark.
