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Reading: Only 84 NBA Players Are Eligible For Awards; More Than 20 Stars Ineligible
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Home > NBA News & Media > Only 84 NBA Players Are Eligible For Awards; More Than 20 Stars Ineligible

Only 84 NBA Players Are Eligible For Awards; More Than 20 Stars Ineligible

The NBA’s 65-game rule reshaped awards eligibility, leaving many stars sidelined from honors.

Vishwesha Kumar
Apr 15, 2025
6 Min Read
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Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The NBA’s controversial 65-game minimum rule has shaken up the awards conversation more than ever before. As the 2024-25 regular season concludes, Justin Russo pointed out that only 84 players—or just 15% of the league—are officially eligible for end-of-season honors like MVP, All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player. 

The rule, introduced to preserve the integrity of the awards and discourage load management, has instead eliminated a significant number of elite stars from contention.

1. Jaden McDaniels 

2. Mikal Bridges 

3. Jalen Green 

4. Brook Lopez 

5. Ivica Zubac 

6. Carlton Carrington 

7. Christian Braun 

8. Pascal Siakam 

9. James Harden 

10. Bam Adebayo 

11. Anthony Edwards 

12. Chris Paul 

13. Malik Beasley 

14. Tyler Herro 

15. Josh Hart 

16. Dyson Daniels 

17. Trae Young 

18. Payton Pritchard 

19. Derrick White 

20. Michael Porter Jr. 

21. Naz Reid 

22. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

23. Toumani Camara 

24. DeMar DeRozan 

25. Darius Garland 

26. Taurean Prince 

27. Devin Booker 

28. Keegan Murray 

29. Alperen Sengun 

30. OG Anunoby 

31. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 

32. Harrison Barnes 

33. Coby White 

34. Dillon Brooks 

35. Tyrese Haliburton 

36. Jaren Jackson Jr. 

37. Zach LaVine 

38. Jayson Tatum 

39. Nikola Vucevic 

40. Tobias Harris 

41. Austin Reaves 

42. Karl-Anthony Towns 

43. Donovan Mitchell 

44. Tim Hardaway Jr. 

45. Rudy Gobert 

46. Luguentz Dort 

47. Onyeka Okongwu 

48. Josh Giddey 

49. Cade Cunningham 

50. Bennedict Mathurin 

51. Myles Turner 

52. LeBron James 

53. Deni Avdija 

54. Shaedon Sharpe 

55. Evan Mobley 

56. Klay Thompson 

57. Nikola Jokic 

58. Russell Westbrook 

59. Stephen Curry 

60. Desmond Bane 

61. Anfernee Simons 

62. Jalen Duren 

63. Jalen Williams 

64. Tyus Jones 

65. Stephon Castle 

66. Spencer Dinwiddie 

67. Nickeil Alexander-Walker 

68. Julius Randle 

69. Yves Missi 

70. Domantas Sabonis 

71. Jordan Poole 

72. Jamal Murray 

73. Dennis Schroder 

74. Draymond Green 

75. Amen Thompson 

76. Jaylen Wells 

77. Keyonte George 

78. Nic Claxton 

79. Josh Green 

80. Max Christie 

81. Jalen Brunson 

82. Alex Sarr 

83. Devin Vassell 

84. Scottie Barnes

Among the 84 eligible players are some notable standouts. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton are among the few stars who not only had elite seasons but also stayed healthy enough to remain in the conversation. Meanwhile, Edwards’ durability and rise to superstardom in Minnesota could land him on the All-NBA First Team for the first time.

The list of eligible names is filled with workhorses like Brook Lopez, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Jaden McDaniels—players who aren’t always in the spotlight but who showed up night after night. 

Rising stars like Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jalen Williams, and Keegan Murray made the cut, as did veterans like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook. Even role players like Malik Beasley, Naz Reid, and Taurean Prince made it, illustrating how few marquee names reached the required threshold.

While the league has undoubtedly achieved its goal of rewarding durability, the rule has inadvertently disqualified several of the league’s biggest names, sparking debate among fans and analysts alike. 

1. Luka Doncic 

2. Anthony Davis 

3. Kyrie Irving 

4. Kevin Durant 

5. Kawhi Leonard 

6. Bradley Beal 

7. Ja Morant 

8. Joel Embiid 

9. Paul George 

10. Jaylen Brown 

11. Kristaps Porzingis 

12. Jrue Holiday 

13. Damian Lillard 

14. Franz Wagner 

15. Paolo Banchero 

16. Tyrese Maxey

17. Chet Holmgren 

18. Victor Wembanyama 

19. LaMelo Ball 

20. Jimmy Butler

21. De’Aaron Fox 

22. Zion Williamson 

23. Brandon Ingram 

24. Lauri Markkanen 

25. Alex Caruso 

26. Isaiah Hartenstein 

27. Ausar Thompson

This season, the 65-game rule has turned into a defining narrative around the awards. While the league wanted to reward availability, the cost has been excluding some of the game’s biggest names, most of whom sat out due to legitimate injuries rather than excessive rest. The spirit of the rule—to ensure that awards reflect sustained excellence—remains intact, but its rigidity may need reconsideration in the future.

Fans and analysts are left wondering: Should players with obvious elite impact really be left off the All-NBA list because they played 62 games instead of 65? 

That question will loom large heading into the offseason, especially as more and more stars fall short of the threshold.

Until the rule is reviewed, the NBA’s awards will continue to be shaped not just by performance, but by durability—a double-edged sword in the era of player health prioritization.

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ByVishwesha Kumar
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Vishwesha Kumar is a staff writer for Fadeaway World from Bengaluru, India. Graduating with a Bachelor of Technology from PES University in 2020, Vishwesha leverages his analytical skills to enhance his sports journalism, particularly in basketball. His experience includes writing over 3000 articles across respected publications such as Essentially Sports and Sportskeeda, which have established him as a prolific figure in the sports writing community.Vishwesha’s love for basketball was ignited by watching LeBron James, inspiring him to delve deeply into the nuances of the game. This personal passion translates into his writing, allowing him to connect with readers through relatable narratives and insightful analyses. He holds a unique and controversial opinion that Russell Westbrook is often underrated rather than overrated. Despite Westbrook's flaws, Vishwesha believes that his triple-double achievements and relentless athleticism are often downplayed, making him one of the most unique and electrifying players in NBA history, even if his style of play can sometimes be polarizing. 
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