Tyrese Haliburton expressed his displeasure with the NBA’s recently implemented player participation policy.
Following his return to practice on Monday after a five-game absence, the All-Star guard criticized the new rule that establishes a minimum games played requirement for end-of-season awards and All-NBA honors.
To provide context, the NBA and the player’s union incorporated the player participation policy into the new collective bargaining agreement in April 2023.
This policy mandates a 65-game threshold for players to be eligible for awards such as Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year, as well as All-NBA honors. Additionally, players must play a minimum of 20 minutes in each of the 65 games to qualify.
The impact of this rule is evident in MVP discussions, with Joel Embiid, a front-runner for the award, having limited games left to miss while remaining eligible. Haliburton is now experiencing the consequences of this policy, particularly in relation to his contract.
His max contract extension signed last summer allowed him to earn up to 30% of the Pacers’ salary cap starting from the 2024-25 season, contingent on making an All-NBA team in the 2023-24 season.
Having already missed 13 games, Haliburton can only afford to miss three more games to stay eligible for All-NBA and potentially secure an additional $40 million over the life of his contract.
Haliburton, along with many other players, criticized the rule, deeming it as “stupid.” Despite their disagreement, players acknowledge the need to adhere to the policy, emphasizing the owners’ preference.
Haliburton expressed his commitment to taking care of his body to meet the 65-game requirement, highlighting that other players in the league are facing similar challenges.
An interesting aspect arises from the fact that Haliburton’s absences were due to injury rather than strategic load management.
The rule may require adjustments in the future, particularly when evaluating players who miss games due to various injuries but remain deserving of All-NBA recognition or consideration for accolades like Defensive Player of the Year.
The impact of this rule on the current season remains uncertain, but it is evident that players, echoing Haliburton’s sentiments, are not enthusiastic about this policy.
