League: NBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Adam Silver defends NBA's 65-game rule for awards eligibility

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 4, 2026, 12:47 AM

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

Adam Silver defends NBA's 65-game rule for awards eligibility

Summary

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver affirmed the continuation of the league's 65-game rule for player awards eligibility during a press conference ahead of the NBA Finals on June 4, 2026. The rule requires players to compete in at least 65 games to be considered for individual awards, implemented to encourage stars to participate more frequently in regular-season games. Although the rule faced scrutiny this past season, Silver stated it is effective and reiterated he is not ready to propose any changes. Any future modifications will be discussed during the next collective bargaining agreement, which will address issues arising from player injuries.

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Status Watch

•Silver announced the 65-game rule will stay through the current CBA until 2029-30.
•Players like Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham appealed for awards eligibility despite not meeting the game requirement.
•Minnesota's Anthony Edwards was denied an appeal after playing in 60 games this season.
•Star players have increasingly missed games due to injuries in recent seasons.

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