NBA's 65-Game Rule Backfires, Prioritizing TV Deals Over Player Health

The league's attempt to ensure star players appear in more regular season games has created unintended consequences, forcing athletes to risk injury for awards eligibility.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:10am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with players' bodies broken down into angular, overlapping shapes, symbolizing the physical toll of the league's 65-game rule.The NBA's 65-game rule forces players to risk injury for awards eligibility, fracturing the sport's integrity.Today in Detroit

The NBA's 65-game rule, introduced in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement, was intended to ensure players earning end-of-season awards had put in the work. However, the rule has backfired, incentivizing players to jeopardize their long-term health to appear in meaningless games just to hit an arbitrary number. The rule seems to prioritize the league's TV deals and desire for star power in nationally televised games over the well-being of its players.

Why it matters

The 65-game rule conflates the regular season with the playoffs, treating them as equally important. This undermines the significance of the postseason, where legends are made and the league generates the most revenue. By prioritizing regular-season appearances over playoff readiness, the rule creates a system that punishes players for trying to stay healthy through load management, a practice essential for preserving their bodies.

The details

The rule requires players to appear in at least 65 games (with some exceptions for injuries) to be eligible for awards like MVP or All-NBA. This has forced players like Cade Cunningham to risk their health by playing through injuries just to qualify. The rule also undermines the legitimacy of the awards it's supposed to legitimize, as players who don't meet the threshold may still win.

  • The 65-game rule was introduced in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement.
  • Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung in his 61st game and is now under pressure to play in Detroit's final five games to qualify for All-NBA honors.

The players

Cade Cunningham

A Detroit Pistons player who suffered a collapsed lung in his 61st game and is now under pressure to play in the final five games to qualify for All-NBA honors.

Tyrese Haliburton

A player who has felt compelled to rush back from injuries due to the 65-game rule, potentially exacerbating those injuries in the process.

Chet Holmgren

A player who could potentially win Defensive Player of the Year despite not meeting the 65-game threshold, which would undermine the legitimacy of the award.

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What’s next

The NBPA has called for the abolition of the 65-game rule, and it remains to be seen if the league will heed their concerns and reevaluate the policy.

The takeaway

The 65-game rule is a classic case of solving the wrong problem, prioritizing the league's TV deals and desire for star power over the well-being of its players. If the NBA wants to maintain its reputation as the premier basketball organization, it needs to start putting its players first and rethinking the schedule to address the root issue of an overlong regular season.