NBA Legends Defend Luka Doncic's Awards Eligibility Despite Missing 65-Game Rule

Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony argue Doncic should not be penalized for missing games to attend the birth of his child.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:09am

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NBA legends Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony have spoken out in support of Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, who is set to fall short of the league's 65-game eligibility threshold for end-of-season awards due to missing games to attend the birth of his second child in Slovenia. McGrady and Anthony believe Doncic should not be penalized for attending a family matter, and are hopeful the NBA will make an exception in his case.

Why it matters

The 65-game rule is intended to ensure award voters have a large enough sample size to evaluate players, but some argue it unfairly penalizes international stars who may need to miss games for family reasons. Doncic's case could set a precedent for how the league handles such situations going forward.

The details

Luka Doncic has played 64 games this season, one shy of the 65-game threshold required by the NBA to be eligible for end-of-season awards like MVP and All-NBA teams. Doncic missed a couple of games earlier in the season to fly back to Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter. Tracy McGrady and Carmelo Anthony believe Doncic should not be penalized for attending a family matter, and are hopeful the league will make an exception in his case.

  • Luka Doncic missed a couple of games earlier this season to fly back to Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter.

The players

Luka Doncic

A superstar player for the Los Angeles Lakers who is set to fall short of the NBA's 65-game eligibility threshold for end-of-season awards due to missing games to attend the birth of his child in Slovenia.

Tracy McGrady

A former NBA player and Hall of Famer who has spoken out in support of Luka Doncic, arguing he should not be penalized for missing games to attend a family matter.

Carmelo Anthony

A former NBA player and future Hall of Famer who has also voiced support for Luka Doncic, saying international players should not be penalized for missing games to tend to family obligations.

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What they’re saying

“It's a birth of his child, it's not an injury, it's not load management. This is the birth of his child. Where you gotta fly to another country. I'm sure the league is gonna do right by that.”

— Tracy McGrady, NBA Legend

“This is the international players. If they need to get back to go take care of family matters and they missing games they shouldn't be penalized for that.”

— Carmelo Anthony, NBA Legend

What’s next

The NBA will have to decide whether to grant Luka Doncic an exception to the 65-game eligibility rule, which could set a precedent for how the league handles similar situations involving international players in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges international NBA stars can face in balancing their professional obligations with important family matters. The league will need to carefully consider how to apply its rules in a fair and equitable manner, especially when it comes to recognizing the achievements of its global superstars.