The NBA’s current rule, mandating players to engage in a minimum of 65 games to qualify for postseason awards, is under considerable scrutiny.
Enacted for the ongoing season, the regulation has put several high-profile players on the brink of ineligibility, including Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks, LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, and Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics.
A particularly notable case is that of Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers center, who is amidst a historic scoring season. Despite his exceptional performance, he can only afford to miss five more games before surpassing the 65-game limit and becoming disqualified for postseason awards.
Embiid recently missed two games due to knee soreness, including a much-anticipated match against Nikola Jokic in Denver. Despite evident discomfort, Embiid played in the subsequent game against the Golden State Warriors, where he noticeably struggled, scoring a season-low 14 points on 4-for-18 shooting.
During the Warriors’ game, Embiid’s left knee, the same one causing him trouble, was landed on by Jonathan Kuminga. This incident forced Embiid to exit the game prematurely.
The 76ers announced that Embiid would sit out the next game against the Utah Jazz without specifying the exact medical issue. Speculation arose that Embiid’s eagerness to play may have been influenced by the scrutiny he faced after missing the Denver game and the looming 65-game rule for postseason awards.
In the aftermath of Embiid’s injury, Warriors forward Draymond Green criticized the policy on The Draymond Green Show.
Green suggested that the 65-game rule compelled Embiid to play and ultimately contributed to his injury. He expressed discontent with the policy, highlighting the potential repercussions for premier players like Embiid.
Green’s criticism follows Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton’s earlier remark, calling the 65-game rule “stupid.” Haliburton, facing the risk of missing out on a $41 million addition to his contract if he doesn’t make an All-NBA team due to insufficient game time, expressed frustration with the rule.
The requirement mandates players to play at least 20 minutes for the games to count toward qualification, with limited exceptions.
Originally implemented to discourage load management and rest days, the 65-game rule is now encountering resistance from players and fans alike. The unfolding postseason awards and potential adjustments to the policy will be closely monitored in the coming months.
