Joel Embiid has missed 12 of the 17 games he can miss during the NBA regular season to be eligible for awards consideration. Given that Embiid has widely been considered the MVP frontrunner this season, many expected him to find a way to reach the 65-game requirement.
Chris Haynes reported on the TNT broadcast of 76ers vs. Warriors that Embiid is prioritizing being healthy for the NBA playoffs and is not considering endangering himself to reach the 65-game limit.
“A source close to [Joel Embiid] explained this to me before the game — he said: ‘Embiid came into the season with two goals: number one was to become the best player in the game, and number two, he wanted to enter the playoffs healthy.’ So we all know that he has five games left to miss, to still be eligible to win MVP, but I was told that’s something he’s not considering. He felt like when he went into the playoffs last year not healthy, he felt like he put the team at a disadvantage.”
“A source close to [Joel Embiid] explained this to me before the game — he said: ‘Embiid came into the season with two goals: number one was to become the best player in the game, and number two, he wanted to enter the playoffs healthy.’ So we all know that he has five games left…
— Philly Sixers Galaxy (@sixers_galaxy) January 31, 2024
Embiid is averaging 36.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in a historic season. Unfortunately, it seems his MVP case is dead in the water. While no MVP has played under 65 games and won the award in an 82-game season, the explicit requirement for the same is going to polarize fans, especially when Embiid is also left off the All-NBA team.
Will The NBA Re-Think The 65-Game Requirement?
The NBA implemented the 65-game requirement for this season, with many welcoming the change as it ensured fewer players load managing. We’ve seen that this season, with most top players on track to play over 65 games. Embiid will likely fall out of eligibility soon. He played against the Warriors through injury and hobbled off the court, so it’s likely we see him miss a few games in the next week.
Joel Embiid is down and holding his knee pic.twitter.com/Aigap7Ch4l
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 31, 2024
Outside of Embiid, the only likely All-NBA candidate who likely won’t be eligible for selection will be Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton has had his season derailed with a hamstring injury, returning for the Pacers’ loss against the Celtics tonight. If he misses two more games this season, he will fail to reach the games played requirement and miss out on the first All-NBA selection of his career.
Haliburton criticized the rule as well.
“It’s a stupid rule.”
The NBA should consider adjusting its requirements for next season. No MVP plays under 65 games, but we’ve seen multiple All-NBA players who have played under 65 games. This applies to LeBron James over the last few years and other stars such as Kevin Durant. The likes of Draymond Green also criticized this as it devalued All-NBA selections.
Keeping the requirement for MVP and other major awards makes sense, but maybe it should be lowered or possibly removed for All-NBA. Given the financial implications of being an All-NBA player, this may incentivize players to put themselves at risk to just match the requirement whenever they’re injured.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
