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With Joe Dumars, the NBA’s head of basketball operations, sounding off on the criticism the league’s new 65-game rule faced this year, let’s take a look at which players are actually in danger of missing out on awards and accolades.
“No matter where the number landed, if it was 60, if it was 55, we probably would still be having this conversation,” Dumars said of the new rule on Wednesday, per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
The maximum amount of games a player can miss to still be eligible for end-of-season awards is 17.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (13 games missed) is the most notable player in danger of failing to meet the 65-game minimum, due in large part to a hamstring injury he suffered on Jan. 8. Haliburton has also been one of the more vocal critics of this new initiative by the NBA, previously calling the new initiative by the league “stupid,” per CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish.
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle — a two-time All-NBA selection — has missed 13 games and has been out since Jan. 27 with a dislocated right shoulder. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said Randle has expressed a desire to return to the floor and is prepared to play through the pain if necessary, further demonstrating players’ desire to meet the 65-game mark.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has missed seven games but is sidelined for at least the next four weeks following surgery on his left hand. This is an interesting case of a potential conflict between what a player wants versus what a front office wants. Will Young be motivated to return earlier to get a crack at making an All-NBA team, or will the Hawks exercise caution with its three-time All-Star?
Looking at the league on a macro scale, this new 65-games played rule is working as intended. Most of the potential candidates for end-of-season awards such as reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic (2), Luka Doncic (8) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2) are far away from the 17 missed games mark, and players known for their shaky health such as Kawhi Leonard (5), Paul George (5) and Anthony Davis (4) all have single-digit missed games this year.
It remains to be seen whether or not the NBA will modify this rule for future seasons, but given the large amount of star players suiting up on a nightly basis, there’s little reason to change things up.
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