Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham ruled eligible for awards, but Anthony Edwards still isn’t appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The NBA’s 65-game award rule was put in the spotlight this season when players such as Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham weren’t eligible. After both filed for an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge, they have now been made eligible for end-of-the-season awards, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Just in: The NBA and NBPA have ruled in favor of Lakers ’ Luka Doncic and Pistons’ Cade Cunningham on their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge for the 65-game award rule, making both eligible for all 2025-26 season honors such as MVP and All-NBA teams, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The NBPA released a statement regarding Doncic and Cunningham being eligible for the awards.
“Cunningham played in 63 qualified games due in part to missing 12 games as a result of a collapsed lung that was diagnosed on March 17,” the NBPA wrote. “Dončić played in 64 qualified games due in part to missing two games to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA.”
The one player who was not granted eligibility was Anthony Edwards , who was only able to play in 61 games this season.
“Additionally, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards , who played in 60 qualified games, filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge under the CBA, seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator. Edwards’ challenge was denied and, as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards for the 2025-26 NBA regular season,” the NBPA added.
Edwards missed time with a knee injury, but the league must’ve felt as if he didn’t have a real case to be eligible, such as Doncic and Cunningham.
This news will definitely change a few things when it comes to All-NBA teams, as both Doncic and Cunningham have both played at a high level this season.
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