Cade Cunningham, Luka Doncic All-NBA Honor Restarts 65-Game Rule Talks

BusinessSportsMoneyCade Cunningham, Luka Doncic All-NBA Honor Restarts 65-Game Rule TalksByTony East,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tony East is an Indiana-based writer who covers the Pacers and Fever.Follow AuthorMay 28, 2026, 08:00am EDTInglewood, CA - February 15: Luka Doncic of Team World shoots against Cade Cunningham of Team USA Stars in the first game of the 75th NBA All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday February 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)MediaNews Group via Getty ImagesThe NBA announced its All-NBA teams last weekend, and two players who were at one point deemed ineligible for the award were named to the All-NBA First Team.Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic both received First Team honors, joining Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic. Those players all had tremendous campaigns. Yet in the case of Doncic and Cunningham, they almost weren’t recognized for it due to their participation level this season.Cunningham, 24, made the All-NBA Third Team last year before showing more improvement this season. But various injuries caused him to miss time, and Cunningham finished the 2025-26 campaign with 64 games played. Doncic, meanwhile, also played in 64 games thanks to a combination of injuries, family matters, and a suspension thanks to his technical foul count.64 appearances is about 78% of an NBA season. The league wants its stars to play more than that, so they created a games played threshold players are (usually) required to hit to receive certain end-of-season honors. All-NBA teams are one such accolade, and the league’s official rule is that players must suit up in 65 outings to be eligible.“No player shall be eligible for NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Most Improved Player, All-NBA Team (First, Second, or Third), or NBA All-Defensive T...