Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham cleared for NBA awards eligibility

The Lakers’ Luka Doncic and Pistons’ Cade Cunningham have both been granted eligibility for NBA end-of-season awards, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Both players successfully won their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge tied to the league’s 65-game rule.

The rule requires players to appear in at least 65 games to qualify for honors such as MVP and All-NBA. Doncic and Cunningham each played in 64.

Just short. Now, they’re back in the mix.

Cunningham’s case centered on health. The Detroit guard missed time after what was initially described as back spasms but was later diagnosed as a collapsed lung. He ended up missing 11 games before returning late in the season.

Doncic’s path was a little different.

The LA star missed two games for the birth of his second child, then later suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain that required treatment overseas. His camp pushed the case.

“To ensure that Luka’s incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honored… we intend to apply,” agent Billy Duffy said at the time.

The league agreed. So now, both players are eligible. And in a tight awards race, that could matter quite a bit.