Pistons Coach Criticizes NBA's 65-Game Rule After Cade Cunningham's Injury

JB Bickerstaff argues the rule needs to be re-evaluated after Cunningham's collapsed lung puts his All-NBA selection in jeopardy.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:20pm

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Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff has criticized the NBA's 65-game rule after star player Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung injury that could prevent him from reaching the threshold and being eligible for All-NBA honors. Bickerstaff believes the rule needs to be re-evaluated, as it unfairly penalizes players who miss time due to legitimate injuries rather than load management.

Why it matters

The 65-game rule was introduced to limit load management and incentivize players to suit up more often. However, the Cunningham case highlights how the rule can negatively impact players who miss time due to serious injuries, rather than just resting. This raises questions about the rule's effectiveness and whether exceptions or changes are needed to ensure deserving players are not penalized.

The details

Cade Cunningham, the former No. 1 overall pick and MVP candidate, suffered a collapsed lung injury after diving for a loose ball. With a typical 3-6 week recovery timeline, he is likely to miss the rest of the regular season. However, Cunningham has already played in 61 games this season, leaving him 4 shy of the 65-game threshold required to be eligible for All-NBA honors. Bickerstaff believes this is unfair, as Cunningham has been one of the league's most consistent performers and should not be penalized for a legitimate injury.

  • Cunningham suffered the collapsed lung injury on March 21, 2026.
  • Cunningham has played in 61 games so far this season.

The players

Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons' star player and MVP candidate who suffered a collapsed lung injury that could prevent him from reaching the NBA's 65-game threshold for All-NBA eligibility.

JB Bickerstaff

The head coach of the Detroit Pistons who criticized the NBA's 65-game rule and argued it needs to be re-evaluated to avoid penalizing players for legitimate injuries.

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What they’re saying

“I understand the intent of the rule, but the execution part is difficult to understand. And it does have an impact on the way the game is played, the way the game is coached.”

— JB Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons

“If the guys are good enough, they deserve certain things. They play a certain way, they sacrifice certain things. Guys shouldn't have to feel like they have to play hurt or injured to make something like that happen.”

— JB Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons

“If you have serious injuries and you've played a certain way throughout the season, you've played a certain amount of games, a certain amount of minutes, you should still be able to qualify for those awards.”

— JB Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons

“I understand the intent behind it. I just think there's gotta be a better way.”

— JB Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons

What’s next

The NBA will likely need to evaluate the 65-game rule and consider potential exceptions or changes to ensure deserving players like Cade Cunningham are not unfairly penalized for missing time due to legitimate injuries.

The takeaway

The Cade Cunningham injury case highlights the need for the NBA to re-examine its 65-game rule, as the current implementation can unfairly impact players who miss time due to serious injuries rather than load management. Providing more flexibility or exceptions to the rule could help ensure the league's top performers are recognized for their contributions throughout the season.