Injuries have been a big concern in the NBA for the past few years. But now they will have a direct impact on the end-of-season awards. League insider Bobby Marks pointed out that, as things stand, 73% of all NBA players are either already ineligible or at risk of becoming ineligible for postseason awards due to missing more games than the maximum threshold for eligibility (17 games).
“Right now we are tracking that 73% of NBA players are either ineligible or on pace not to be eligible for postseason honors. Doncic has already met the super max criteria because he earned All-NBA in 2023 and 2024.”
There are several star players in the NBA who have missed over 17 games or are close to it. You can find the list of notable names who fall into that category below.
1. Kawhi Leonard – 30 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
2. Mitchell Robinson – 30 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
3. Paolo Banchero – 26 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
4. Zion Williamson – 24 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
5. Khris Middleton – 21 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
6. Kristaps Porzingis – 20 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
7. Joel Embiid – 19 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
8. Jose Alvarado – 19 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
9. Chet Holmgren – 18 Games Missed – Ineligible For Awards
10. Jared McCain – 5 Games Missed (Expected To Miss 30+ Games More) – Ineligible For Awards
11. Steven Adams – 13 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 4 Missed Games
12. Brandon Ingram – 12 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 5 Missed Games
13. Cam Thomas – 12 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 5 Missed Games
14. Kevin Durant – 10 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 7 Missed Games
15. Bradley Beal – 10 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 7 Missed Games
16. Paul George – 10 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 7 Missed Games
17. Luka Doncic – 8 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 9 Missed Games
18. LaMelo Ball – 8 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 9 Missed Games
19. Shaedon Sharpe – 8 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 9 Missed Games
20. Jimmy Butler – 7 Games Missed – Will Be Ineligible After 10 Missed Games
These are the biggest names in the NBA that are currently at risk of becoming or have already become ineligible for the end-of-season awards (MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year), All-NBA, All-Defensive, and All-Rookie teams. These awards aren’t just a great source of pride for players but are also financial conditions in many NBA contracts.
So missing out on these awards isn’t just a slight from a personal standpoint, it also directly affects their finances. Some of the players on this list still have time to protect themselves and play 65 games this season. Whereas others are no longer in the running for end-of-season awards.
Of course, this list will change multiple times throughout the season, as injuries are, unfortunately, a constant in a physical sport like basketball. It will be interesting to see which players are able to meet the 65-game threshold, and which players aren’t.
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