OKLAHOMA CITY — Luka Doncic’s left hamstring damage could have long-term implications not only on the Lakers’ common season, but also their postseason destiny.
But outside of the Lakers, Doncic’s damage could also have ripple results all through the NBA once it’s time to vote for end-of-season awards because of the league’s requirement for certain league honors.
Doncic, who had an outside shot at competing for league MVP and was probably to be named to the All-NBA first crew for the sixth time in his profession, will be one recreation shy of the 65 video games performed required to be eligible for end-of-season awards after the Lakers announced on Friday that Doncic will miss the the rest of the common season because of a Grade 2 strained hamstring.
There’s an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” clause in the league’s collective bargaining settlement that would permit for Doncic to file a grievance over lacking two video games in December due to the delivery of his daughter. An arbitrator’s ruling would come after the common season ends.
Doncic’s agent, Bill Duffy of WME, confirmed to ESPN that they’ll apply for the problem to guarantee Doncic stays eligible for end-of-season awards.
But Doncic shouldn’t be in this place in the first place.
Nor should Pistons star guard Cade Cunningham or Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards, both of whom dealt with circumstances that will probably make them ineligible for league awards.
Or the numerous other stars who’ve already been disqualified from awards voting, or who have to play either every recreation or all but one recreation down the stretch of the season to stay eligible, such as Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
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This isn’t to say having a video games threshold for league awards isn’t a good factor.
But it’s an acknowledgment that changes are essential to give the league the best shot attainable at having end-of-season award ballots signify the most impactful gamers for that respective season.
The prompt changes that should be made in order for that to occur: Lower the games-played threshold to 58.
And embody a minutes performed exception clause for gamers who fall short of 58 video games.
This isn’t a international idea.
Fifty-eight, or 70% of an 82-game season, are the quantity of video games required to qualify for several statistical league leaders, such as scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocked photographs and minutes.
If Doncic didn’t play another recreation this season, he’d probably be acknowledged as the scoring chief for the second time in his profession, with a league-high scoring average of 33.5 factors, but wouldn’t be eligible for All-NBA.
What sense does that make?
Before the league launched the 65-games-played threshold for main end-of-season awards beginning with the 2023-24 season — in hopes of having more star gamers out there — the league already had a decade-long precedent for what was required for other league honors.
It’s time for the league to be more constant on this entrance.
Clauses already exist permitting gamers to be eligible for end-of-season awards if they don’t attain the present 65-game threshold, just as exceptions exist if a participant doesn’t play in 58 video games to qualify as a statistical chief.
The proposed exception for gamers falling short of the prompt 58 video games performed for end-of-season awards is a 1,624-minutes-played requirement across the season, equal to 28 minutes per recreation.
Yes, star gamers such as Steph Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo would still stay ineligible for end-of-season awards because they’d fall short of both the prompt video games and minutes performed thresholds.
But gamers such as Doncic, Edwards and Cunningham would still be ready to obtain consideration for awards meant to honor star gamers who led their respective groups for most of the season.
As Lakers coach JJ Redick put it, having steering for voters is useful.
And there may not be a good reply for the threshold required to be eligible for end-of-season awards.
There’s always going to be a participant, or gamers, who fall short of the necessities.
But what’s in place now isn’t working as supposed. A decrease threshold would help all stakeholders.
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