LOS ANGELES — The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday that Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham will remain eligible for all major league awards for the 2025–26 regular season under the league’s extraordinary circumstances provision.
The decision, made jointly by the league and union in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement, allows both players to qualify despite falling short of the standard 65-game threshold typically required for postseason honors.
Dončić played in 64 games this season, missing two games in Dec. to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia. Cunningham appeared in 63 qualifying games, missing 12 after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung on March 17.
"I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision," Dončić said in a statement on social media. "It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter in December and I appreciate Mark, Jeanie, Rob, JJ, and the entire Lakers organization for fully supporting me and allowing me to travel to be there. This season has been so special to me because of what my teammates and I have been able to accomplish, and I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards."
In his first full season in Los Angeles, Dončić led the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points a game, showcasing what the Lakers envisioned when they traded for him midseason last year. Dončić was playing at an MVP level before a hamstring injury on April 2 derailed his campaign, dropping him to fourth in the NBA MVP ladder.
The NBA and NBPA determined that, based on the totality of circumstances in both cases, each player met the criteria for the exception.
The ruling ensures both Cunningham and Dončić remain in contention for awards such as Most Valuable Player, All-NBA teams and other end-of-season honors, preserving their candidacies despite the missed time.
In a separate decision, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves was denied eligibility after filing his own extraordinary circumstances challenge. Edwards, who played in 60 qualifying games, sought a ruling from an independent arbitrator but did not receive a favorable decision.
As a result, Edwards will be ineligible for all annual awards for the 2025–26 season after averaging a career-high 28.8 points a game this season.
The outcomes highlight the growing significance of the 65-game rule, which was implemented in the current CBA to ensure award winners meet a minimum participation standard. However, the agreement also includes provisions for rare exceptions, as seen in the cases of Cunningham and Dončić.
With the regular season complete, award voting is expected to proceed with both players included on ballots, while Edwards’ absence could reshape the final results across multiple categories.