The NBA had a serious problem until last season. With the rise of data analytics and sports science, load management has become a prevalent practice across the NBA. However, this posed a problem for the NBA, as some of its biggest stars regularly sat out games that were aired on national television. This created a huge conundrum for higher-ups within the NBA, especially with the impending new TV rights deal.

The NBA implemented certain rules to deal with load management under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). One such rule was the 65-game threshold that players had to abide by to be eligible for postseason awards such as the MVP, ROY, and MIP awards. Furthermore, players won’t even be eligible for the All-NBA accolades.

Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray could miss out on postseason accolades

This rule change has already cost Joel Embiid the chance to retain his MVP crown. Before the meniscus tear he sustained against the Warriors on 30th January, Embiid was the frontrunner for the MVP award. However, his knee injury threw a spanner in the works, as Embiid crossed the 65-game threshold. Additionally, several other standout players, including Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell, and Kristaps Porziņģis, are also at risk of missing out on postseason awards due to this rule, despite their impressive performances throughout the season.

Mitchell has averaged 28 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game this season. His performances basically make him a lock for the All-NBA accolades. However, he has already missed 13 games, which means that he can only miss four more games. Jamal Murray is another victim of the 65-game rule. He has played an instrumental role in the Nuggets’ recent success. However, he has missed 16 games this season, which leaves him with only one more game that he can miss under the 65-game threshold rule.

The new rule has faced a significant backlash from players across the league, who argue that it jeopardizes their health and safety by compelling them to play through injuries. Embiid’s knee injury could be attributed to the rule change. Other players like Tyrese Haliburton and Nikola Jokić have also publicly opposed the rule, with Haliburton calling it “a stupid rule.”

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Amid growing calls for modification, the NBA has refrained from making any changes to the rule. Despite mounting pressure, the league appears hesitant to alter the rule, considering it is still relatively new and has shown some effectiveness, with fewer star players missing games this season. What are your thoughts? Is the 65-game rule here to stay or will the NBA modify it? Let us know in the comments below!