NBA and NBPA Approve Eligibility Exception for Players Missing Games Due to Extraordinary Circumstances

Eligibility Exception for Awards Voting

The NBA and the players' association have ruled in favor of two players who did not meet the league’s 65-game minimum requirement for award eligibility.

This ruling allows them to be considered for all 2025-26 season honors, including MVP and All-NBA team selections. Both players fell short of the games played threshold due to extraordinary circumstances. One player missed two games in December due to the birth of a child abroad, which qualified as an extraordinary circumstance under league rules.

Later, this player suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2, ending their regular season.

Impact on Award

Considerations This ruling means that despite playing 64 games, the player will be eligible for end-of-season awards voting.

The league’s decision acknowledges the exceptional nature of the missed games and grants eligibility accordingly. The ruling applies to all awards for the 2025-26 NBA season, ensuring that the affected players remain in contention despite not meeting the standard games played criteria.

" — ESPN, April 2026 This decision reflects the league’s process for handling cases where players miss games due to significant personal or health reasons, balancing fairness in award eligibility with the realities of player availability.

The ruling was confirmed by multiple sources, including ESPN and the New York Post, which reported on the eligibility status following the challenge.

Background on the 65-Game Rule The NBA requires players to appear in at least 65 games to qualify for major season awards.

This threshold is intended to ensure that award recipients have contributed substantially throughout the season. However, the league allows for exceptions under its Extraordinary Circumstances policy, which considers factors such as family events or injuries. The players’ union and the league jointly review such challenges to determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

This ruling is an example of that process in action, applying the policy to specific player situations during the 2025-26 season. The decision has implications for how the league manages award qualifications in seasons affected by personal or medical absences, maintaining flexibility while upholding competitive standards.