The National Basketball Players Association is calling for changes to the NBA’s 65-game minimum rule, citing the situation involving Cade Cunningham, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
In a statement released Tuesday, the NBPA said Cunningham’s likely ineligibility for postseason awards highlights flaws in the rule.
“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule,” the union said. “Since its implementation, far too many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors.”
Cunningham appeared in 61 games before being diagnosed with a collapsed lung that could sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. Because he logged just five minutes in his most recent appearance, he remains five games short of the 65-game threshold.
The current rule requires players to log at least 20 minutes for a game to count, with limited exceptions. A hardship provision exists for season-ending injuries, but only if a player has already reached 62 qualifying games — a mark Cunningham did not meet.
The rule was designed to curb load management, though it has created unintended consequences. Players who fall short of the threshold are ineligible for major awards, which can also impact contract incentives tied to honors such as All-NBA selections.
Cunningham had been in the mix for both MVP consideration and an All-NBA spot prior to the injury.
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