As the NBA regular season concludes on Sunday, the eligibility for major annual awards hinges on the league's 65-game rule. Several stars, including LeBron James and Stephen Curry, are already ineligible, but Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokić remains on the bubble.
To qualify, a player must participate in at least 65 games, with a minimum of 20 minutes in each, though two games can count with just 15 minutes played. Jokić, who has missed 17 games, must play at least 15 minutes in Denver's finale against the San Antonio Spurs to be eligible for MVP and other honors.
Portland's Deni Avdija also needs to log 20 minutes in his final game to meet the threshold. Meanwhile, a long list of All-Stars, including Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, will not reach the 65-game mark this season. Players like Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard officially secured their eligibility on Friday.