Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham are officially in the running for the NBA’s most prestigious end-of-season awards – including the coveted Most Valuable Player trophy – after both stars successfully appealed the league’s minimum games-played requirement.
The Rule, The Exemption, and What Changed
Under standard NBA rules, a player must appear in at least 65 regular season games to qualify for individual awards. Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham each fell short of that threshold – Doncic played 64 games and Cunningham played 63 – but both were granted exemptions after lodging formal appeals citing “extraordinary circumstances.”
The NBA confirmed that Cunningham missed 12 games due to a collapsed lung, a serious medical emergency that left him sidelined through no fault of his own. Doncic, meanwhile, missed two games to be present for the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. The league accepted both reasons as legitimate grounds for the exemption, bringing Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham into full award contention.
By contrast, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who appeared in just 60 games, lodged a similar appeal but was denied. The decision highlights that the NBA is considering the character and extent of circumstances, rather than the number of games missed.
Luka Doncic: The Lakers’ Scoring Machine
Luka Doncic has dominated the regular season of the Los Angeles Lakers. The 27-year-old Slovenian superstar was the main scoring leader of the whole league, scoring 2,143 points during the regular season, a number that makes him a serious candidate for MVP.
The Lakers secured a play-off berth on the back of Doncic’s performances this season. Off the court, his popularity continues to grow globally – he was recently named the player who sold the most shirts across Europe and the Middle East. The eligibility barrier is finally removed so both Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham can be mentioned when it comes to All-NBA selections and MVP voting.
Cade Cunningham: Leading Detroit Into the Play-offs
Cade Cunningham has also had a season to be proud of and maybe even more so considering the resurgence of the Pistons. The 24-year-old guard is second in the whole NBA in assists with 634 on the year. The play making ability is impressive and it is indicative of his leadership in Detroit.
The Pistons have already gained a play-off spot under the management of Cunningham and now lead the Eastern Conference standings, an impressive achievement considering that the club had been at the bottom of the league in the past years. The reality that Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham can now be considered as MVP candidates provides a further fantastic plot twist to the post-season story.
What Awards Are Now on the Table?
And now both players can enjoy the full range of end-of-season awards: the MVP award, the All-NBA first, second, and third teams, and any other individual honors that need the 65-game minimum. For Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham, the path to the award podium is now wide open, and both will be closely watched as the play-offs unfold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why were Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham initially ineligible for NBA awards?
A: The two players did not meet the NBA requirement of 65 games. Doncic had 64 games and Cunningham had 63, only slightly short of the threshold before they got their appeals successful.
Q: What reasons did Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham give for their appeals?
A: Cunningham referred to a collapsed lung, which made him miss 12 games, and Doncic to the birth of his daughter in Slovenia, which made him miss two games. Both were deemed by the NBA as extraordinary circumstances and the exemptions were approved.
Q: Is Anthony Edwards also eligible for NBA awards this season?
A: No. Despite lodging a similar appeal, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves was denied his exemption. He played just 60 games, and the NBA did not grant him the same allowance extended to Doncic and Cunningham.
Q: What NBA awards can Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham now compete for?
A: After the successful appeals, both players are now eligible to the NBA MVP award, All-NBA team selections (first, second, and third teams) and all other individual awards that fulfill the 65-game minimum requirement.
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