The NBA’s 65-game minimum rule for awards eligibility has been one of the more polarizing changes in recent memory - and it's already reshaping how we talk about player accolades. Designed to encourage player availability, the rule has also created some unintended consequences, sidelining elite performers from award conversations not because of their play, but because of their health.
This season, the ripple effects are hitting the Lakers hard. Injuries have been a recurring theme, and at the center of it all is LeBron James.
After missing the early portion of the season, LeBron is now sitting at 16 games missed - meaning he’s got just one more game he can afford to sit out before falling below the 65-game threshold. If he misses another, he’ll be ineligible for All-NBA honors, which would snap an unprecedented 21-year streak of selections.
That’s not just a footnote - it’s the kind of streak that defines eras.
Given the Lakers’ remaining schedule, which includes several back-to-backs, it’s entirely possible - maybe even likely - that LeBron will have to sit one of those out. If that happens, the streak ends. Just like his double-digit scoring streak did earlier this year, another chapter in LeBron’s historic résumé could quietly close.
But LeBron’s not the only one walking the tightrope.
Austin Reaves, who’s carved out a meaningful role in L.A.’s rotation, has missed six games so far. That gives him an 11-game cushion - enough room to maneuver, but not so much that he can afford to coast. If Reaves has any shot at being in the conversation for Most Improved or other honors, staying healthy is non-negotiable.
Luka Dončić, meanwhile, is in a similar boat. He’s also missed six games, and while he’s a perennial MVP candidate when he’s on the court, the same rule applies: miss more than 17 games, and he’s out of the running. For a player of Luka’s caliber, that’s a significant subplot to monitor as the season wears on.
Elsewhere, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart are technically in the mix, though their award paths are longer shots. Ayton has missed four games, giving him a 13-game buffer. If he continues his upward trend, a Most Improved Player nod isn’t out of the question - especially if the field thins due to others falling short of the 65-game mark.
Smart, who’s missed nine games, has eight left to give. His name might surface in Sixth Man or All-Defense discussions, depending on how the rest of the season shakes out. And in a year where availability is half the battle, even long shots can become contenders.
Here’s a quick look at where each of these players stands:
- Austin Reaves - 6 games missed, can miss 11 more
- Luka Dončić - 6 games missed, can miss 11 more
- LeBron James - 16 games missed, can miss 1 more
- Deandre Ayton - 4 games missed, can miss 13 more
- Marcus Smart - 9 games missed, can miss 8 more
The bottom line? The 65-game rule isn’t just a footnote in the CBA - it’s a real factor shaping the award races this year. With injuries mounting and the schedule tightening, players and teams alike are having to navigate the fine line between health management and legacy implications.
As the season unfolds, we’ll keep tracking how close these players are to that eligibility cutoff. Because in this new NBA landscape, it’s not just about how well you play - it’s about how often you play, too.